• The Great War, 1914-1919 caused millions of deaths and great economic and political losses across western Europe ... leading to greater losses from influenza ... but its causes are still disputed ...

What is the scope (coverage) of the research, in terms of institutions, countries and time periods?

• This paper will explore the evidence for three major alleged causes ...

What have been the findings of major authorities on this topic?  (What causes of behavior have they found?)

• Some (author, year; author, year) argue that the first world war was caused by Russian military mobilization.  Others (author, year; author, year) have found fault with German militarism; system theorists (author, year; author, year) argue that the international system of alliances was unstable; Great Man theorists (author, year; author, year) have argued the Kaiser was so badly brought up and so expansionist that he bears personal responsibility; others (author, year; author, year) have faulted Prinzip, the student assassin of Arch Duke Ferdinand at Sarajevo.  Still others (author, year; author, year) have pointed to the economic rise of Germany as causing an inevitable shift in the international system.

• This paper will focus on the actions of British, French, Russian and German leaders to show that the cause of war lay in belligerent actions by the four regional powers.

• Russian and German leaders were more to blame for their miscalculations than were the French and British.

What are the limitations of the research? (Academic modesty).

• The paper will leave aside the period before 1900
• the paper will ignore social movements and economic causes
• no account will be given of US failure to enter the international system to ensure British and French superiority in the balance of power.
• although the paper uses original (primary) documents on the German and British actions, it will leave aside those on the French and Russian.