i) The League appeared to be an organisation of those who were victorious in the First World War.
ii) Since it lacked the military power of its own, it could not enforce its decisions.
iii) The founders of this peace organisation underestimated the power of nationalism.
iv) The principle of  'collective security' could not be applied in actual practice.

i) The Russian revolution fired people's imagination across the world.
ii) In many countries, communist parties were formed.
iii) The Russian Communist Government encouraged the colonies to fight for their freedom.
iv) Debates over key issues, land reforms, social welfare, workers' rights, and gender equality started taking place in a global context.

i) Mustafa Kemal Pasha did a remarkable role for Turkey's rebirth as a nation.
ii) Kemal Pasha modernised Turkey and changed it out of all recognition.

European Alliances and Counter - Alliances:
(i) In 1900 five of the European Great Powers were divided into two armed camps.
a) One camp consisted of the Central Powers namely Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. They formed the Triple Alliance in 1882.
b) The other camp consisted of France and Russia. Their alliance was formed in 1894 with the promise of mutual help if Germany attacked either of them.
(ii) The Anglo-Japanese Alliance prompted France to seek an alliance with Britain to resolve colonial disputes over Morocco and Egypt.
(iii) In 1904 Entente Cordiale was signed between France and Britain.
(iv) Finally it led to the formation of Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia.
Violent Forms of Nationalism:
England's Jingoism, France's Chauvinism and Germany's Kultur were militant forms of nationalism, contributing decisively to the outbreak of war.
Aggressive attitude of Germany:
a) Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany proclaimed Germany would be the leader of the world.
b) Germany's aggressive diplomacy and rapid building of naval bases convinced Britain a German navy could be directed only against her.
Imperial power politics in the Balkans:
a) The Young Turk Revolution of 1908, provided both Austria and Russia with the opportunity to resume their activities in the Balkans.
b) Austria and Russia met and agreed Austria should annex Bosnia and Herzegovina. This aroused intense opposition from Serbia. Germany gave Austria firm support.
c) The enmity between Austria and Serbia led to the outbreak of war in 1914.
The Balkan wars:
a) The Ottoman Empire extended over the Balkans and across Hungary to Poland.
b) The Turks and their subjects of different nationalities in the Balkans indulged in the most frightful massacres and atrocities.
c) The league attacked and defeated Turkish forces in the first Balkan War (1912-13).
d) According to the Treaty of London signed in May 1913 the new state of Albania was created and the other Balkan states divided up Macedonia between them.
e) The division of Macedonia, however, did not satisfy Bulgaria. Bulgaria attacked Serbia and Greece. But Bulgaria was easily defeated. The second Balkan War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest in August 1913.
Immediate cause:
a) The climax to these events in the Balkans occurred in Sarajevo in Bosnia. On 28 June 1914 the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated by Princip, a Bosnian Serb.
b) The German army which was planning a war against both France and Russia wanted to use the occasion to its advantage.
c) The German violation of Belgian neutrality forced Britain to enter war.