<P> To complicate matters, in the years preceding World War I, there existed a tangle of Great Power alliances, both formal and informal, public and secret . Following the Napoleonic Wars there had existed a "balance of power" to, in theory, prevent major wars . This theory held that opposing combinations of powers in Europe would be evenly matched entailing that any general war would be far too costly for any nation to risk entering . This system began to fall apart as the Ottoman Empire which had been seen as a check on Russian power began to crumble, and as Germany, which had been a loose confederation of minor states, was united into a major power . Not only did these changes lead to a realignment of power, but of interests as well . </P> <P> All these factors, and many others, conspired to bring about the First World War . As is insinuated by the name "the powder keg of Europe," the Balkans were not the major issue at stake in the war, but were merely the catalyst that led to the conflagration . The Chancellor of Germany in the late 19th century, Otto von Bismarck, correctly predicted it would be the source of major conflict in Europe . </P> <P> The powder keg "exploded" causing the First World War, which began with a conflict between imperial Austria - Hungary and Pan-Slavic Serbia . Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, a member of the Austrian royal family, was assassinated by a Bosnian of Serb extraction, a member of the Young Bosnia movement . Austria - Hungary then issued an ultimatum to Serbia intended to provoke it to war through extreme demands . The Serbian government reservedly accepted all of the conditions of the ultimatum, except for condition number six which demanded the inclusion of Austria - Hungary in Serbia's judicial inquiry into the assassination . </P> <P> Serbia indicated this would be unconstitutional and a violation of its sovereignty, and Austria - Hungary used it as a casus belli to invade Serbia . With Germany fully supporting them, the Austro - Hungarians partially mobilized their army against Serbia, which had already begun mobilizing before replying to the Austro - Hungarian July Ultimatum . Russia then began mobilizing in support of Serbia, though not bound by treaty to do so . Due to the system of European alliances, this led to a series of escalating Austrian and Russian mobilizations and eventually Britain and France were also obliged to mobilize and declare war . </P>

What nations are found in the powder keg of europe