The Origins Of World War I - 3406 Words

The Origins of World War I: Domestic Troubles and Diversionary War Drew Miller HON 394: Causes of War 5 May, 2015 !1 Most people, when prompted, will respond that the â€Å"cause† of World War I was the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand—and they would not be wrong. Killing the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire was, without a doubt, the spark that ignited the explosion that was the Great War. However, anyone who is well-versed in the history of World War I knows that the reasons for its outbreak were far more complex. Scholars have made legitimate arguments that the war came about because of a widespread â€Å"cult of the offensive,† a complex system of alliances, and even as a complete accident. However, I contend that†¦show more content†¦59. 2 Van Evera, â€Å"Cult of the Offensive,† p. 56. !2 One reason for this doctrine, according to Snyder, was that the military took it for granted that physical conflict was almost always required for the resolution of problems; in light of this philosophy, â€Å"prudential calculations are slanted in favor of preventive wars and preemptive strikes.† Thus, militaries became convinced that destroying t 3 he enemy as quickly as possible was the most effective way to win a war. The common argument in regards to World War I is that these attack-oriented militaries and their emphases on â€Å"first-strike† advantages encouraged rapid mobilization plans, military build-ups, and arms races; this behavior led to aggressive foreign policy and severely reduced the likelihood of diplomatic resolution, ultimately making war more likely. However, I believe that while the cult of the offensive did play a major role in the rapid