PENGAMBILAN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 1908 OLEH AUSTRIA-HUNGARY DAN REAKSI MASYARAKAT BALKAN

The decision of the big powers in Berlin in 1878 to handover Bosnia-Herzogovina to be administered temporarily by Austria-Hungary represented an early step to enable the latter to take possession of Bosnia-Herzogovina from the Ottoman empire permanently by 1908. This decision was motivated by several factors including concerns over the emergence of the Pan-Slave idea championed by Serbia among the Balkan community that posed a threat to the Austro-Hungarian empire. Although the step taken by Austria-Hungary was opposed by the Ottoman government and the Balkan states such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro, Austria-Hungary managed to get the support of other European powers such as Britain, Germany and France. The takeover was done without the consideration of the views and sentiments of the Balkan community, particularly Bosnia-Herzegovina. This article examines the factors that influenced the measures taken by Austria-Hungary and considers the reactions of the Balkan states, including the Ottoman government.