War requires very careful planning. To go to war against an enemy more powerful than yourself is obvious suicide. The answer? Often wars are instigated between two major powers, but are fought also by smaller countries allying against each other. In such cases a rapid race takes place were nations advertise and try to gain as many powerful allies as they can convince. In the case before World War I, many different nations had good reasons to go to war with each other. In forming the Triple Alliance and Entente, Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary, and Britain, France and Russia respectively, have given each other security within each alliance, but also increased the threat of war. The balance of power remained quite even through the forming of the alliances, but which powers are more likely to take a chance and tip the scales"

France was in the Triple Entente...