The strategic context of World War I

Abstract

The paper discusses the circumstances that had been decisive for the creation of a strategic context for the outbreak of World War I. It analyzes the political, economic and strategic interests of key actors in European international order in the late 19th and early 20th century, and how they led to the polarization of European politics and the formation of opposing alliances. Also, the main ideas of their war plans are discussed, as well as the aggressive positioning of Germany and Austro-Hungary before the commencement of the Great War. Special attention is addressed to the geopolitical position of Serbia from after it had gained independence until the beginning of World War I, as well as the challenges faced by the Balkan region in the swirl of complicated international political relations in Europe by the late 19th and early 20th century.

Keywords

• world war i
• strategic context
• the european international order
• interests
• strategies
• war plans