Saturday, July 19, 2014

Why do the formation of military alliances increase the likelihood of a country going to war?

The tangled web of military alliances that were signed before World War I is considered one of the underlying causes of World War I. Without the network of alliances that existed in Europe during the early Twentieth Century, it is possible that the conflict in the Balkans may have stayed in the Balkans. Why did the formation of these alliances have such a profound effect? The answer is because of military obligations that are inherent in signing a treaty for an alliance.


The answer to this question is one of elementary mathematics.  If a country has made military alliances with four countries, the likelihood of war has been increased four-fold. On the other hand, if a country remains isolated and does not agree to alliances, they will go to war only if they are attacked or their own interests are in peril.  

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