Final answer:
Militarism is the ideology advocating for a strong military force aggressively used to promote or defend national interests. It was a driving force behind the arms race and international tensions in pre-World War I Europe, guided by the principle of 'might makes right.' Historical evidence shows the long and influential presence of militarism in shaping nations and their international relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is the theory of militarism? The theory of militarism is the belief or desire by a government or people to sustain a strong military capacity, prepared to be used aggressively to defend or advance national interests. This concept was particularly evident in late 19th and early 20th century Europe, where countries like Great Britain, France, and Germany more than doubled their defense spending and sizes of their militaries, resulting in an arms race.
Militarism is interconnected with imperialism and nationalism. It fosters competition among nations, as demonstrated by the naval arms race that escalated with the construction of the Dreadnought in 1906. This competition often involved alliances and defense pacts but also carried the underlying belief that having a substantial military might was tantamount to being right or justified in international dealings – the notion of 'might makes right.'
The historical context of militarism is deep-rooted and can be traced back to theories that perceive military force as a primary means to secure and expand a civilization's culture and territorial control. The rise of militarism sometimes led to nationalist fervor and imperial ambitions – factors that played significant roles in the onset of major conflicts such as World War I.