What is a civil servant?

The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career administrators hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leadership. 

the triple alliance. germany and austria-hungary were already allies by 1879 when, worried about a threat from russia, they formed the dual alliance. italy joined the group in 1882. there was a concern about a possible attack from france and the alliance needed powerful friends to defend it.