With reference to the causes of the First World War, explain the following :

(a) Armament race

(b) militant nationalism

(a) The major European nations began stockpiling armaments in the name of self-defence and preservation of peace. As a result, if one country increased its armaments, other countries were compelled to do the same. It filled the atmosphere with fear, apprehension and mutual hatred.

Germany began to increase its naval force and started large-scale production of arms and ammunition. This resulted in race for armaments among rival groups. Britain embarked on a large naval programme with a view to achieve parity with Germany.

(b) Militant or Aggressive nationalism meant love for one's own country and hatred for other countries. Each nation thought about its national interests alone. The spirit of nationalism was a strong driving force in European politics of the 19th century.

1. France wanted to get back its provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from Germany.
2. Italy wanted to get back the territory of Trentino and Trieste from Austria.
3. Balkan states like Serbia wanted that their fellow nationals (Slavs) who lived in other states should come together to form a greater Balkan State.
4. Kaiser Wilhelm II, the new emperor of Germany, wanted his country to be the leader of the world.
5. Britain had already emerged as the foremost colonial power with almost a quarter of the world under her control.

Thus, the whole atmosphere was charged with militant nationalism and inter-state rivalries. This aggressive nationalism led to the rise of Imperialism, a system by which a powerful nation used to establish its control over another country, either by political pressure, infiltration, annexation or by outright wars.