Opinion on Alliances

Overall, I think that the Alliance system had both positive and negative effects on both the countries involved with the alliances, and the rest of the world.  The positive effects that the system of alliances had on the world was that countries could cooperate better and help each other out if they ever needed it.  On the other hand however, the alliances bulked up the amount of power certain countries had and just made them bolder in attacking other countries.

Despite the fact that alliances would be the eventual breaking point that started the War to End All Wars, positive outcomes were obtained too.  Alliances helped countries become more stable and could grant more peace of mind for the government s involved.  Tariffs and trade barriers could be reduced or removed as a result of alliances.  This improved economies and encouraged market growth, which benefited all countries involved.

As stated above, the alliances also had the detrimental effect of causing all of Europe to be plunged into war.  What once could have been a local conflict over land disputes became a war of absolute chaos as country by country was pulled into the growing war by their alliances.

Today, alliances still exist.  They are an important part of international diplomacy and help many major powers in the world get along.  From the Geneva convention, which talks about rules for wars, to many small pacts made by countries concerning resources and land, alliances are used all over the world today.