Is war avoidable

Because of collective security (alliances made; i.e. Triple Alliance, Triple Entente), the 'local conflict' between Serbia and Austria-Hungary became a World War. Had it not been for this collective security, a World War could have possibly been avoided.

AnswerI don't think it could have been avoided. It was the result of a hundred little pressures all building up until eventually it just exploded. The countries of Europe all wanted a war they were pretty much itching for an excuse to fight and eventually they found one. None of them expected the war to be anything like what it became, they thought it would all be over quickly. AnswerIf Austria-Hungary had negotiated seriously with Serbia in July 1914, war could have been avoided. However, Germany egged Austria-Hungary on to be completely unreasonable ... After the assassination in Sarajevo (28 June 1914, many politicians went on holiday as planned and seem not to have assumed they were on the verge of war. A Historian's PerspectiveFrom a modern historical and political science perspective, there are two major parts to this seemingly simple question:

(a) Was some sort of general European War avoidable in the early 1900s?

(b) If the answer to (a) is "No", what form was such a conflict most likely to take?

Given the prevailing political and military atmosphere of the 1890s and 1900s, pretty much all historians are of the opinion that some form of European war was inevitable in the 1910s or 1920s. Most European nations' foreign policies were driven by brinkmanship and absolutism - compromise was seen as impinging the national honor, and the prevailing public opinions of most European countries placed a high value on national honor and prestige. Newspapers exhorted highly nationalistic ideals and foreign policies, and governments were careful to listen to public sentiment. In addition, a massive arms race had been underway for nearly 30 years, driven by the rapid industrialization of Europe and the concurrent revolution in military weapon design (magazine-fed bolt action rifles, machine-guns, submarines, the switch from coal boilers to steam turbines in ships, the advent of high-strength steel, etc.)

The general opinion of most nations at the time was that war was not only inevitable, but desirable. People thought it would be a short, massive push, followed by a quick defeat of the enemy and a return to peace, with the victor gaining some spoils. In essence, everyone was dreaming of a scenario like the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

"If my sons did not want wars, there would be none." Gutle Schnaper Rothschild