Final answer:
Imperialism, fostered by industrialization and the industrial world economy, led great powers to compete for colonies and spheres of influence, contributing to global tensions and significant conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The long-term cause of war linked with industrialization and a contest for colonies is referred to as imperialism. During the period leading up to World War I, the industrial revolution had transformed Europe, resulting in an industrial world economy. An increase in production demanded new markets for goods and raw materials for industry. This led to a 'scramble for Africa,' with nearly the entire continent falling under European control and similar efforts in Asia and the Pacific. Colonial wars were fought, and spheres of influence were established, as industrialized nations, including Great Britain, France, Russia, and Japan, competed fiercely for global empires. This rampant imperialism inflamed tensions between these great powers and is considered one of the significant causes of the catastrophic conflicts that followed.