Austro Hungary Policy Towards Serbia - Essay Example

The First World War that broke out in 1914 was a result of years of intrigues and political rivalries against one another. The continent of Europe was divided into two distinct blocs. There were allies, counter allies, proxies and counter proxy wars and settlements. Austria and Hungry were part of the nexus that made up for the Central powers along with the most notable and influencing force of that time in Europe in the form of Germany. Thesis statement: The Austro Hungry policy towards Serbia was that of containment and ensuring maximum grip maintenance over it. This came about at a cost of revolt and rebel from the Serbs and the eventual outcome would lead to the outbreak of the First World War. Serbia was part of the Balkan states that were under the direct or indirect custody and influence of the stronger states. These stronger states comprised of the likes of Russia, Germany, Great Britain, Austria and Hungry combined, and France to name a few. Each aimed at imposing its influence and using the land for its own interests in the continental interests of resources, land and other strategic elements of importance (Fromkin). The policy towards Serbia was that of hostility, crushing of any form of rebel in the Serbian ranks. This came about in the form of military power exercising, further, the political aspect along with increased diplomatic presence in the different corridors of political and social spheres of the regions were few of the actions and motives through which the Austrians aimed at handling the question of Serbia. Furthermore, the nationalistic movements that started from the Serbs ranks were strongly opposed by the Austrians. They aimed at crushing them through the political, military and diplomatic activities (Crean). The breakout of the World War one did not take place straight away, rather it came about through number of steps and events and they can be traced back to as early as 1870s. This paper will give an insight into how the overall events unfolded and how the scenario was mishandled by the stronger powers of the Europe at that time. Austria and Hungry were dominantly positioned against the Serbs. This was on the account of fact that the Ottoman Empire had lost its grip. As a result, it gave the stronger powers to impose and exercise their influence upon the weaker states. The action related to the Congress of Berlin and various other similar actions did not auger well for the political landscape of the Europe that was already engulfed in the dangers of outbreak of the war. The fear of Russia and other similar threats along with the numerous other aspects further worsened the situation. Towards the early part of the 20th century, the continent of Europe was so bitterly engulfed that change or development in one part of the given sphere led to outbreak or reaction in the other. One similar instance came about in the form of the Young Turks. The Young Turks rose in revolt against the already frail Ottoman Empire and Porte. Since the weakness of the Porte would result in the direct strengthening of the other countries, the same equation unfolded for the Austrians. This came about in the form of Austrians finding an excuse and aiming to strengthen their gain and fold through the annexation of the Serbian Slavs and Bosnians. The First World War goes into history to have initiated from the event where Franz Ferdinand by assassinated by Gavrilo Princip. This was the trigger point however there a dense background to it. This event did not come about as a result of same fit of insanity or no good reason; rather it was motivated by the element of vendetta, oppression, hostility and aggressive designs against the Austrians. The Austrians had been the oppressive force and had the dominant authority over the Serbians against their will. This in turn led to direct hostility and led in creation of number of scenarios and events. Owing to the direct hostilities and frustration, the Serbians took up arms. They united in rank and grouped together to make up secret societies. These secret societies had their pre defined roles and tasks under which they had to perform certain specific tasks which according to their views and ideas would enable them to make an impact and convey a message to Austrians in general and European sphere in particular about the hostilities and displeasure of the Serbians against the oppression by the Austrians. As a result of this, the Black Hand came into existence. Black Hand was a secretly operating society that had large number of individuals in it. They undertook clearly defined objectives. These objectives included targets such as killing the officials, attacking and ambushing the government posts and offices. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip was part of the same motive and strategy under which he was gunned down and it eventually led to the precipitation point and eventual breakout of the war that had been long looming on the horizons of Europe for over decade where different countries had grouped against one another with aims of gaining maximum benefit and advantage from the complex situation the European sphere. The traces of overall turbulence and uneven ties stretch back to the last phase of the 19th century where the Slav states aimed for gaining independence and freedom from the other states that had long been ruling over them. The Treaty of San Stefano came about in 1876. Under this treaty number of massive changes came about in the overall political landscape of Europe and number of Slav states got their independence. Serbia was one of them. This was a sigh of relieve for the Serbs who had long revolted and rebelled against the Austrians. However, this would not go on for long and in coming years certain moves and mistakes by the European stronger powers would lead to the further souring of relationship between the two which in turn would lead to extreme hostilities bringing about further deterioration as a whole. This move was largely aimed at further isolating the Serbs in their efforts with regard to their tilt towards France. Serbia on account of poor economic outlook went for the help and assistance of France. Austria did not take this move well and in return went about blocking its naval routes. This in turn brought about resentment from the Serbs who retailed equally. This retaliation was equally balanced in multiple ways. The first was that of direct offensive in the form of Pig’s war. The second was on the account of fact that the secret societies and other underground activities were launched which severely proved costly towards the overall balance of ties. The Ottoman Empire was weakened in parallel by number of activities. These activities for themselves make up for a long list of elements and factors which in turn directly and indirectly led to the outbreak of the First World War. However, through the gradual decay, the countries that were previously under the grip and control of Ottoman Empire and Porte were now free in their actions and as a result started rebelling against one another. This gave the Austrians and other ambitious forces a chance to break into the domestic affairs and as a result undertook a step and action in the form of annexation of Bosnia in the year 1908. The event that unfolded in 1908 was the most critical one. While the direct outcome of the war came about through the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, historians claim that the political action that was taken in 1908 led to the original cause of outbreak of the war. This came about in the form of formal annexation of Serbia by Austria. Unfortunately this came about through the auspices of the stronger powers of Europe at that time. The parties that were to be directly blamed for this method were Germany, Russia and France. The lack of far sightedness resulted in the direct imbalance and destruction of the overall political map which would create further hostilities between the two rivals. The Bosnian crisis unfolded in the year 1908 1909. This came about on the account of fact that the Austrians formally took over the control of Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. This totally did not go well with the Serbs and other Slav states and they took it as a total an absolute form of oppressions. Historians have termed this point as the tipping stone towards the global outbreak of the war that was first of its kind and engulfed countries from outside the continent of Europe in the latter stages as well. There was an overall atmosphere of rebel, and nationalistic outcry in the European sphere at that time. The activities of young Turks was one similar activity and outfit that reflected the general outlook and mood of the various nations and Slav states who had long been held captives and decided and demanded to break free from the chains of hostility which came about in the form of secret societies, protests and other political parties that challenged the governments in place which were not accepted by them. The ten point ultimatum came about as another oppressive and hostile act from the Austrians. Under this rule and ultimatum, the Serbs were asked to fulfill a set of conditions that came about in the form of ten point agenda. This ten point agenda included handing over the alleged culprits as well as the banning of the secret societies. Historians believe that the Serbs fulfilled a list of eight conditions set forth against them but could not fulfill the other points. Austrian ambitions led to overall sense of alienation among the Slav subjects. First was through the annexation and later through the ultimatum and other diplomatic activities. Austrians are believed to have followed a very strict path which not only led to the worsening of the situation but also led to the outbreak of the war and led to the massive destruction and disaster of the humanity where a war as long as four years long was fought and eventually led to the first ever global war. The parallel weakness of Ottoman Empire and the buildup of military arsenal by the various nations in Europe at that time were few other reasons in this regard. References: Crean, G. P. Political Philosophy and the Great War. 2011 Fromkin, David. Europes Last Summer. ABC, 2009. Read More