Causes of the First World War

This study investigates the events leading up to the initiation of the First World War in 1914. The objective of this study is to identify a factor or a combination of factors that may be cited as the cause of the conflict. This introductory chapter develops the problem that is investigated in this study, formulated the hypothesis that is tested in the study, and explains the methodology applied in the pursuit of this investigation. Following this introductory chapter, relevant literature in the fields of international relations and conflict resolution is reviewed in the chapter immediately following, and the findings of the research performed for this study are presented and discussed in the third chapter. The final chapter summarizes the study and presents the conclusions drawn from the study findings.

In very late1915, military historian Willis J. Abbot wrote that in "a dismal little town of Bosnia, by name of Sarajevo and by repute hardly known to the civilized world, on the 28th of June 1914, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the imperial crown of AustriaHungary, was shot dead by a boy who thought himself a Serbian patriot." In 1989, historian Dennis Cuddy wrote that is very likely that the First World War would not have occurred at all in the absence of the Sarajevo assassination; however, it is the reasons that underlie the assassination, rathe

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which a single powerful state "dominates the lesser states in the system"; (2) bipolarity, in which "two powerful states control . . . interactions within and between their respective spheres of influence"; and "a balance of power in which three or more states control one another's actions through diplomatic maneuver, shifting alliances, and open conflict." Keohane, however, tended to discount the dominant capacity and willingness to exercise such capacity accorded to power states in Gilpin's assessment of international control. In this context, Keohane stated that claims "for the general validity of the theory of hegemonic stability are often exaggerated. The dominance of a single great power may contribute to order in world politics, in particular circumstances, but it is not a sufficient condition." Keohane added that hegemony "and cooperation are not alternatives; on the contrary, they are often found in symbiotic relationships with one another." Gilpin recognized a greater power for the hegemonic state. With respect to the hierarchy of prestige among states, Gilpin stated that, ultimately, it "rests on economic and military power. Prestige is the reputation for power, and military power in particular. . . . prestige
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Kenneth Waltz, Hong Kong, World War, Methodology Historical, Gilpin Keohane, Keohane Gilpin, Michael Handel, AustriaHungarian Empire, Resolution International, Middle European, international relations, world war, coercive diplomacy, conduct international relations, conduct international, combination factors, systemic hypothesis, international regimes, hostilities world war, hostilities world, hypothesis holds, initiation hostilities, international alliances europe, alliances europe 1914, relations austriahungarian empire,
Approximate Word count = 8109
Approximate Pages = 32 (250 words per page)

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