Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe

In Southeastern Europe, the end of the First World War marked a profound geopolitical transformation and the start of an important and conflicting process of modernisation of the economic, social and political structures of the countries in the region. Agrarian reforms, changes in political...

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Main Author: Basciani Alberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute for Balkan Studies SASA 2024-01-01
Series:Balcanica
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Online Access:https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2024/0350-76532455185B.pdf
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author Basciani Alberto
author_facet Basciani Alberto
author_sort Basciani Alberto
collection DOAJ
description In Southeastern Europe, the end of the First World War marked a profound geopolitical transformation and the start of an important and conflicting process of modernisation of the economic, social and political structures of the countries in the region. Agrarian reforms, changes in political structures, increasing urbanisation, population growth, and ad hoc legislation for minority rights protection were some of the most important issues addressed in those years. This essay aims to elucidate the main knots and contradictions in the internal and international life of the countries of Balkan Europe, showing how efforts to change political and social structures encountered enormous obstacles in the intrinsic weakness of those socio-economic structures, but also in the will of important segments of the Balkan ruling classes, especially those who had realised the nationalistic dreams of the decades before the Great War, to reassert the supremacy of their respective power and ethnic groups. Yet there were changes, and important ones at that. In foreign policy, for example, the Balkans was the only region in Europe where an attempt was made to turn the so-called ‘spirit of Locarno’ into a concrete achievement, albeit unsuccessfully.
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spelling doaj-art-3d48257ea2f349e8b909c17f3ca4b9ad2025-01-30T06:44:47ZengInstitute for Balkan Studies SASABalcanica0350-76532406-08012024-01-0120245518520910.2298/BALC2455185B0350-76532455185BBeyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern EuropeBasciani Alberto0Department of Political Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, ItalyIn Southeastern Europe, the end of the First World War marked a profound geopolitical transformation and the start of an important and conflicting process of modernisation of the economic, social and political structures of the countries in the region. Agrarian reforms, changes in political structures, increasing urbanisation, population growth, and ad hoc legislation for minority rights protection were some of the most important issues addressed in those years. This essay aims to elucidate the main knots and contradictions in the internal and international life of the countries of Balkan Europe, showing how efforts to change political and social structures encountered enormous obstacles in the intrinsic weakness of those socio-economic structures, but also in the will of important segments of the Balkan ruling classes, especially those who had realised the nationalistic dreams of the decades before the Great War, to reassert the supremacy of their respective power and ethnic groups. Yet there were changes, and important ones at that. In foreign policy, for example, the Balkans was the only region in Europe where an attempt was made to turn the so-called ‘spirit of Locarno’ into a concrete achievement, albeit unsuccessfully.https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2024/0350-76532455185B.pdfinterwar yearsmodernisationreformsbalkanseconomic policyforeign policy
spellingShingle Basciani Alberto
Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe
Balcanica
interwar years
modernisation
reforms
balkans
economic policy
foreign policy
title Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe
title_full Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe
title_fullStr Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe
title_full_unstemmed Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe
title_short Beyond nationalism? The inter-war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern Europe
title_sort beyond nationalism the inter war period and some features of the complex transformation of southeastern europe
topic interwar years
modernisation
reforms
balkans
economic policy
foreign policy
url https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2024/0350-76532455185B.pdf
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