have been sustained indefinitely even had Bismarck remained as Chancellor. However, war, if inevitable, would have come about in a different way under Bismarck as he would have never allowed the alliance system of 1914 exist had he been in power.
             Caprivi's legacy was not perhaps as rosy as his predecessor had intended. Despite France's still being isolated and treaties still existing between Germany and Russia, Italy and Austria, the situation was more complex. Problems had existed between Austria and Russia for many years over an area known as the Balkans. The Ottoman Empire was in a state of disintegration with both Austria and Russia vying for a greater influence in the area. Both powers held a right to do so as Russia, predominantly a Slav country, felt that they should have an influence with their fellow Slavs. However, Austria felt that if she did not have an influence in the area, Russia's policy would lead to a surge of Slav nationalist spirit with the inevitable result that Austria's Slavic peoples would rise up and overthrow Habsburg rule. Austria was a declining power by this time and had regions of the empire begun to break away, it was likely that a Slav nationalist uprising would result in the overthrow of the system and an end to Habsburg rule. For these reasons, Russia and Austria clashed frequently over the issue of the Balkans and indeed it was from this area that the spark for the First World War would come.
             The most important of the Balkan crises came in 1878. In 1876-77, full-scale Bulgarian uprising led to a confrontation between Turkey (The Ottoman empire) and Russia that led to a war from 1877-1878 over the future of Bulgaria resulted in a defeat for the Turks. The Russians then forced the Turks to sign the Treaty of San Stefano. This treaty contained harsh terms that were felt by Britain and Austria-Hungary to give Russia too much power in the Balkans a...