Europe and Balkan States

In a period that saw the unification of Germany and Italy, the Balkanization of Europe was a different event altogether. A large state broke down into smaller fragments. The dissolution of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empire unleashed new nationalist aspirations. The inhabitants of the Balkan region based their claims of independence on nationality. The People gave examples from history to prove that they were once independent but consequently subjugated by foreign powers. Thus, 19th century Europe and Balkan states were ripe for intense rivalry and conflict.

Habsburg Empire

The Habsburg Empire ruled over the regions of Austria and Hungary. Though Germany was unified under the German Confederacy by 1871, many neighbouring regions of Germany were still under the Habsburg Empire. Within the territorial boundaries of the empire, there were more than 20 nationalities which included Magyars of Hungary, Czechs, Croats, Slovaks, and Slovenes. It was held together through extensive military power. It included a German-speaking administrative bureaucracy. The tide of nationalism throughout Europe threatened the aristocracy of Habsburg. Even the creation of a dual monarchy, Austria-Hungary, in 1867 that gave legitimacy to Magyar nationalism failed to curb these fears.

Visit to know about UPSC Exam Pattern

Balkan Region

The term Balkan did not come into use until the late 19th century. Earlier it referred to the mountain range. Initially, it was under the Roman Empire and then conquered by the Ottomans. Gradually, the term acquired political connotations. Some of the factors which stirred the wave of nationalism in the Balkan Region are:

• Tyranny of the Ottoman Empire
• Clash of cultures between Islam and Christianity
• Religious identity was considered more important than nationalist or linguistic identity

Balkan Region became a site of rivalry among Larger European powers such as Russia, Germany, England, Austria-Hungary. They quarrelled over trade, colonies, naval and military might. Each of them was keen on countering the power of others over Balkan.

Read about UPSC Question Paper

Balkan States

The inhabitants of Balkan states were known as Slavs. Balkan states were extremely competitive within themselves. Every state wanted to gain more territory at the expense of others. The following states constitute the Balkan region.

• Romania
• Bulgaria
• Albania
• Greece
• Macedonia
• Croatia
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Slovenia
• Serbia
• Montenegro

Serbian Nationalism

Between 1804 and 1878, 4 states of the Balkan Region declared independence. These were Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and Romania. Though Serbia had gained independence, it was still marked by rivalries among Ottoman and Habsburg Empires. There was widespread opposition to Ottoman rule by the population. But, Austrian dominance was also not very popular; because of the activities of the Catholic Church. The Ottoman Empire had not actively sought the conversion of the population to Islam. But the Catholic Church, with the support of the Habsburg Empire, was keen on the conversion of inhabitants into Christianity. By 1830 Serbia secured Russian support, to ensure Serbian autonomy. Under Milos Obrenovie, a government with control over its internal affairs was established. By 1876, Serbia gained independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Also read How to Prepare for UPSC without Coaching

First Balkan War

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia, provided immediate context for the First World War that ultimately led to the demise of both the Ottoman and Habsburg Empires. Also, owing to the growing demand for self-government, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria united into a Balkan League. The events in the First Balkan War enfolded in the following manner.

• On 8 October 1912, Montenegro declared war on Turkey. The rest of the countries of the Balkan League also followed the same pattern
• All the Turkish armies were defeated in Europe
• In a conference under the chairmanship of Sir Edward Grey, it was decided that former Turkish territories will be distributed among Balkan states
• Treaty of London between Balkan states and Turks ended Ottoman rule in Europe except in Constantinople and Thrace

Second Balkan War

The Balkan States became involved in a struggle among themselves over goals of victory. Serbia was not happy with gains, as it wanted Albania to have an outlet to the sea. Bulgarians wanted to retain Macedonia, but it was under the control of Serbia. Therefore, Bulgaria attacked Serbia. However, Bulgaria failed in its plans as Greece, Romania and the Turks turned to support Serbia. Serbia turned victorious. By the Treaty of Bucharest in 1913, Bulgaria lost Macedonia to Serbia and Thrace to Greece. The outcomes of the Balkan Wars were as follows:

• Turkey lost most of its empire, population and prestige in Balkan Wars. Faced by dual challenges of managing the Ottoman Empire in the face of internal revolt within different ethnic groups and withstanding the pressure of Europe in great powers, on the other hand, Turkey found itself defeated
• Bulgaria suffered humiliation at the hands of other Balkan States
• Greece, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro profited in terms of expanded region and population

Conclusion

Mark Mazower has aptly summed up, ‘The First World War was the culmination of an entangling of Balkan liberation struggle with the European state system.’ The fragmented reality of the Balkan Region remained intact. Though, Yugoslavia tried to gather these groups back, all in vain. The conflicts of the 1990s exposed the unsettled ethnic and religious identities of the Balkans. Balkan has always been the cockpit of Europe. The disturbances of the Balkan region have kept the socio-economic conditions of Europe at tenterhooks.