July Crisis, 1914

Crisis Committee

The year is 1885. The Concert of Europe has just concluded its recent Berlin Conference to discuss the new imperialist era, and terms for European nations to colonize territories abroad have just been set at the conference. Just years prior, the Congress of Berlin in 1877 declared specific Balkan nations independent from the Ottoman Empire after the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, and the outcome of the Congress disappointed many. The race is on for nations to expand their influence and power abroad. However, as nations seek to grow their power and influence while maintaining peace, growing mistrust and tensions arise between these international actors. In the Americas, the United States looks at Europe with deep suspicion, wanting to keep European influence and colonialism away from the American continent, utilizing the Monroe Doctrine as a justification to act. In Asia, Japan continues to rapidly industrialize, and is beginning to show itself as a potential great power. In Europe, some nations struggle to keep their status as a great colonial power. Nations such as the Spanish Empire and the Ottoman Empire are in rapid decline, with many calling the Ottoman Empire the “sick old man of Europe.” With all of this desire for power and influence, will the world be able to remain at peace? Or, will it plunge into a chaotic war that will see millions of lives being lost to bloody conflict? In a committee revolving around alliances, power, influence, tensions, betrayal, conflict, and even war, who will come out on top and solidify their place as a major player in international affairs?