The pre-World War I world pattern, that is, the international political, economic and social conditions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, was an era of change, conflict and competition. During this period, the balance of power among the world's major powers underwent major changes, and nationalism, imperialism, socialism and other currents of thought arose, laying the groundwork for the outbreak of World War I.
First of all, from the perspective of the political landscape, the countries of the world before World War I can be divided into several major power groups. Among the most influential were the European powers of Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Italy. These countries formed an intricate system of alliances in the process of competing for colonies, expanding their spheres of influence, and competing for the world market. Britain and France were the dominant powers of the Entente, while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Central Powers. In addition, emerging powers such as the United States and Japan have also begun to emerge on the world stage.
On the economic front, the pre-World War I world economy was characterized by a high degree of globalization. With the advancement of the industrial revolution, the productive forces of various countries have been unprecedentedly developed, and international investment has grown rapidly. However, this economic growth has been uneven, with the gap between the rich and the poor widening between developed and developing countries. At the same time, in order to compete for resources and markets, various countries have pursued protectionist policies, which has aggravated international economic contradictions.
On the social front, countries around the world before World War I were generally facing serious social problems. In the process of industrialization, the working class was exploited and oppressed, living in poor conditions, working long hours and low wages. This has led to the rise of left-wing trends of thought such as socialism and a**ism. At the same time, nationalist sentiment is spreading in various countries, with ** and national independence movements rising one after another. In addition, social changes such as the advancement of women and changes in religious beliefs have also affected international relations to a certain extent.
Against this backdrop, the contradictions and conflicts between the countries of the world before World War I continued to intensify. It is mainly manifested in the following aspects:
1.Colonial expansion and the struggle for spheres of influence. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, European powers carried out a series of military expansions and political interventions in order to compete for colonies and spheres of influence. This has led to national liberation movements and revolts in places like Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
2.Arms races and military alliances. In order to safeguard and expand their own interests, various countries have increased their military input and engaged in an arms race. At the same time, a series of military alliance treaties were signed between countries, which made international relations even more strained.
3.Competition of economic interests. In the context of globalization, countries have engaged in a series of economic competitions in order to compete for resources and markets. This has led to the introduction of protectionist policies, as well as economic frictions and contradictions between countries.
4.Ideological opposition. Under the influence of socialism, nationalism and other ideological trends, the ideological confrontation between countries has become increasingly intensified. This has not only affected domestic political stability, but has also had an important impact on international relations.
To sum up, the pre-World War I world was an era of contradictions and conflicts. In the process, the political, economic, and social contradictions between countries intensified, culminating in the outbreak of World War I. This war brought great disasters to the world, and also left a deep imprint on the subsequent evolution of international relations and the world pattern.