Russia's Role in WWI

Explain why a war in Europe broke out in 1914, and the role of Russia in it.  

• Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Austria) had borders just short of Serbia. Ruling was oppressive and selective, based on race. 
• Serbia, was an independent nation of the Slav kingdom, but because the AHE was so large, it stood at risk of invasion. 
• The ruler at the time was Franz Joseph, archaic and rebukive of any form of reform within the empire. The heir, Franz Ferdinand, was the polar opposite: he married outside of royal lineage adn supported intercultural representation in AH as well as wanting political reform.
• Gavrilo Princip belonged to a terrorist cell knwon as…