Was World War I the product of the European system of alliances?

It is often argued that World War I was, at its simplest extent, the ‘product’ of the fall-out of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28^th June 1914. However, even this single event demonstrates the variety of other factors which can be considered as causing the First World War. We can see the actions of Gavrilo Princip as catalysing existing issues in Europe, causing the continent to go to war. In particular, it created a crisis point which tested the European system of alliances, since it became crucial that the Great Powers come to a clear conclusion as to what the various treaties and secret deals they had made actually meant. However, through the actions of Princip, we also get a clear view of the tide of nationalism that was growing in Europe, leading a pan-Serb activist to assassinate perhaps the only leading Austro-Hungarian figure who could prevent Austria-Hungary from attacking Serbia. It can also be argued, however, that World War I was in fact the product of events before the assassination even occurred, and that events had near spiralled to the point of inevitability by the time the fatal shot was fired on 28^th June. Lastly, it is important to recognise that there was, in the words of Hamilton and Herwig, “a considerable element of chance and contingency” in the outbreak of war – chances of cultural differences, of personality quirks in decision-makers, and in the timeline of events. As such, it seems that we can say that although the system of alliances was a considerable factor in how the war took shape and in why countries might go to war, other factors are of considerable importance. Likewise, we cannot view Europe as a homogenous bloc: each nation, and each decision-maker, would have had very different reasons for agreeing to go to war in 1914. Seeking a main factor in the outbreak of war seems very much like seeking to identify a guilty party. However, it is far more useful to see the ways in which various factors impacted the different nations, and so see how the decisions were made that would eventually cause and shape the war.