“The failure to manage the international crisis of July 1914 led to the outbreak of the First World War.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the statement that the outbreak of the First World War was the result of the failure to manage the July Crisis of 1914. The key crisis must be discussed; however, the extent of this discussion may vary based on each candidate’s interpretation of events. Some may focus almost entirely on the events of the July Crisis whereas others may seek to place it in the wider context and offer a comprehensive assessment of other factors, for example militarism, colonial rivalry or the alliance system. Some may argue that failure to manage the crisis brought the alliance system into play, escalating a crisis in the Balkans into a European and later world war. Some may also point out that previous crises such as Morocco or Bosnia had been successfully managed and war avoided.