Geopolitics and Markets Review – 29th April 2024

The Balkan Wars and World War One

Contents

1. Introduction

2. The 20th Century Balkan Wars – The League Of The Balkans

3. World War One – Events

4. World War One - Consequences

5. Concluding Remarks

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Bitesize Edition

• The First and Second Balkan Wars and World War One were tough periods for the Ottomans. The rising nationalism occurring in the previous century culminated in the Balkan Wars. Disagreements between the states in the Balkans contributed to World War One.

• The Bulgarians were on the side of other Balkan states (Serbia, Greece, Montenegro) against the Ottomans in the First Balkan War but were unhappy with the resolution after the conflict and so attacked their former allies, Greece, and Serbia.

• This saw the Bulgarians lose, and the Ottomans actually gained some territory since the Great Powers were worried about their decline and what would take its place in the scenario of a complete collapse.

• Tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary saw the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. World War One was hence underway, and the world changed forever. Find out more below.

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Introduction

Today marks the finale of discussing the Ottomans in the Balkans. Small spoiler for those who don’t know, but the end of World War One saw the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Huge changes were occurring in Europe and the Balkans specifically. Find out more in this week’s review.

Note, I’m on holiday this week, camping on the edge of Loch Lomond in Scotland. As a result, there will be no “Other News” section this week that covers the news of the week in geopolitics. “Other News” will return next week.