In the legacy of these two kingdoms, the promises of nationalism gained popular support, particularly from those under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Promising a better state free of corruption and therefore a better standard of living. It was adopted in Serbia, Bulgaria and most notably in Macedonia where the IMRO struggled (unsuccessfully) to recover the area from Turkish rule or at least enforce the reforms it desperately needed.

In the Austro-Hungarian case discontent was not so resonant, economies were relatively developed (although eventually it became evident that political and economic leaders in Austria-Hungary chose to serve their own needs first). Policy was far more in line with Western enlightenment, religion was tolerated and equality the legal precedent. Nevertheless pockets

In the wake of communism rule, the states of Eastern Europe have undergone some transition. After the revolutions of 1989 swept Eastern Europe, a sense of new possibility entered Yugoslavian political life (drawing comparisons with the first period of Balkan nationalism). All elements felt confident that they could throw off unwanted features of Communism, but the definition of what was to be changed varied from place to place.

Thus as more countries moved into the German sphere of influence in the 1930s the tendency to adopt fascist or Nazi political models grew steadily stronger. Policy change amongst the states of Eastern Europe extended to hostility against minorities within states. The Croat genocide of the Serbs and Jews illustrates the horror that has helped to define ethnic tensions within Eastern Europe. In the misguided attempt to reclaim national institutions successful ethnic relations were never top of the agenda. The historical confines that many nations had endured had created a set of conditions that denied state independence, finally it had become possible in the inter-war period, but in trying to achieve this developed hatred and mistrust toward those outside of their national identity.

Some topics in this essay:
Eastern Europe, Central Europe, World War, Balkans Balkan, Czechs Slovaks, Ideals Communism, Macedonia IMRO, Soviet Union, Habsburg-Austrian Empire, Macedonia Communism, eastern europe, ethnic tensions, world war, nazi domination, national identity, rule eastern europe, national boundaries, soviet union, nationalist revolution, balkan nationalism, ethnic relations,