How did convoluted and fragmented governments become one of the reasons for WWI?

WWI was in many ways the product of the turning century. Many old forms of government and diplomatic protocol still held sway over large portions of Europe. Some of the old guard who held this delicate web in balance were exiting at this point in history. Most importantly of all, Otto von Bismarck was dismissed after years of diplomatic finesse in European relations. Many of the convoluted treaties and marriages that were facilitated by Bismarck were inscrutable to less talented diplomats. Many of the checks and balances in place were not implemented, and as a result, relations quickly deteriorated between Germany and the rest of Europe over their increasingly powerful military. 

It was this upset balance, paired with Germany's increasingly powerful navy, that intimidated Great Britain, creating an atmosphere of hostility. Germany, quite rightly, become paranoid at the notion of becoming "encircled" by hostile nations. One recourse to the threat of inevitable war was to strike early and quickly, which became the German plan heading into WWI.