Final answer:
Despite efforts such as the Congress of Vienna to maintain a balance of power, by 1914 progress in resolving tensions between European powers was minimal. Imperial ambitions, alliances, and the arms race led to underlying conflicts, culminating in the conditions that would spark World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
European Tensions and Alliances Pre-WWI
By 1914, the complex web of alliances and rivalries among European powers had only modestly resolved previous tensions. The relative peace of the 19th century was achieved through diplomatic efforts such as the Congress of Vienna, which aimed to maintain a balance of power. Despite these efforts at stability through alliances and the Concert of Europe, undercurrents of discontent and rivalry persisted, particularly with Germany's rise and its territorial ambitions, clashing with other imperialistic powers like Great Britain. This led to an arms race and a shadow of war over Europe, which Otto von Bismarck ominously predicted could be triggered by an event in the Balkans.
Europe's struggle for balance of power was further complicated by colonial pursuits, with major nations like France and Britain expanding their empires into Africa and Asia. All the while, domestic issues, such as in Russia, added to the volatility. Thus, by 1914, minimal progress had been made to resolve the deeper tensions between the imperial powers, and the landscape was rife with longstanding rivalries and emerging conflicts despite an official state of peace.