After reading this chapter students should be able to understand:

• What key historical facts in the lead-up to World War I are emphasized by each perspective
• What changes in those facts made war more likely, according to each perspective
• What the consequences of the unification of Germany were for the balance of power and the security dilemma
• How the power balancing and power transition schools view the causes of war differently
• What role diplomatic failures and misperception played in the build-up to war
• What role the internal weaknesses of certain states played in making war possible
• How different forms of nationalism and international norms (like Social Darwinism and the cult of the offensive) made war more likely