Pan-Slavism
Topic: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Pan-Slavism was a 19th-century movement for the unity of the Slavs. The Slavs are a large group of peoples who speak related languages, such as Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Czechs and Croats. Russia saw itself as the protector of the Slavs. It backed Balkan Slavs against Ottoman and Austrian rule, partly to spread its own influence. This made Russia an enemy of Austria-Hungary, which ruled many Slavs. Pan-Slavism was one of the tensions that pulled Europe into the First World War.
Example
In 1914, Russia called up its army to support Slav Serbia against Austria-Hungary. This helped turn a Balkan quarrel into a world war.
Don't confuse with
- Pan-Germanism: this aimed to unite all German-speaking peoples, not Slavs.
Related concepts
- Imperialism
- Balkan problem
- Ottoman Empire
- Sick man of Europe
- Eastern Question
- Crimean War
- Congress of Berlin 1878
- Austria-Hungary
- Young Turks
- Balkan Wars 1912-1913