Why did efforts to reduce armaments fail before World War I?

Efforts to reduce armaments before World War I failed primarily due to intensifying national military buildups and deep-seated rivalries among the European powers. While international conferences, such as the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, were convened to address the limitation of armaments, they were unable to reach substantive agreements on reducing military forces.12

Several factors contributed to this failure:

• Naval Arms Race: A primary obstacle was the intense competition between Britain and Germany. Germany’s decision to construct a massive battle fleet, formalized by the Navy Laws of 1898 and 1900, was viewed by Britain as a direct threat to its security and imperial status.13
• Nationalism and Industrialization: The rise of industrial states allowed for rapid military modernization, which nations viewed as essential for maintaining their position as great powers.13
• Alliance Systems: Europe was divided into competing alliance systems, which fostered mutual suspicion and made nations reluctant to disarm for fear of leaving themselves vulnerable to their rivals.1
• Domestic Pressures: In countries like Germany, naval expansion was also driven by domestic economic interests and the need to manage internal social and political tensions.3