- Nationalism: This refers to a strong sense of national pride and a belief in the superiority of one's nation. This heightened nationalism among European countries lead to competition, rivalry and conflict.
- Imperialism: This refers to the policy or practice of empire building through the occupation and control of foreign territories. Imperial expansion created rivalries between European countries and put a strain on international relations.
- Militarism: This refers to the building up and maintenance of a strong military force. Arms races and military alliances among European countries created an atmosphere of tension and fear.
- The System of Alliances: This refers to agreements between countries to support each other in case of war. The intricate network of alliances made it difficult to resolve conflicts peacefully and turned local disputes into global conflicts.