The Historical Origin of Balkanization

Balkan refers to the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe.

Balkanization used to mean that the Balkan region became a "powder keg" because there was no political force or entity that could actually control the whole region, coupled with the interference of foreign forces. Now it refers to the tension caused by the fact that a region has no strong power to safeguard its ownership and its important strategic and economic status has become the focus of attention of many objects.

The Balkans, located in the southeast of Europe, is the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa, bordering the Black Sea and the Turkish Strait in the east and the Mediterranean Sea and Suez Canal in the south. Therefore, it controls the gateway of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and the route to the Indian Ocean, and its strategic position is very important, and the peninsula is also rich in natural resources.

However, there have always been many contradictions and conflicts in the Balkans, including religious contradictions and territorial disputes. The interference of foreign forces has led to frequent conflicts and wars in this region.

Since14th century, most parts of the Balkans have been ruled and enslaved by the Ottoman Empire, a feudal theocracy that once spanned Europe, Asia and Africa. Therefore, all ethnic groups in the Balkans urgently demand to get rid of the colonial rule of Turkey and establish an independent national regime. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the gradual decline and division of Turkey, Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula under its rule became another important goal for imperialist powers to seek partition. Therefore, there are contradictions among imperialist powers, between the people of all ethnic groups in the Balkans and imperialism, and between the people of the Balkans and the feudal rulers of Turkey. At the same time, due to the different religious beliefs in this region, there are contradictions between countries and nations in the Balkans.

1912 from March to August, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro, which have achieved independence, successively formed an anti-Turkish alliance, namely the Balkan Union. Subsequently, imperialist countries intervened in Balkan affairs for their own interests and aggressive purposes. Russia, Britain and France support the Balkan Union, while Germany and Austria support Turkey. Leading to a more complicated situation in the Balkans. In June 5438+10, Balkan countries declared war on Turkey, and the first Balkan war broke out. At the end of the war, Turkey was defeated and made peace. In the same year, the Balkan League held talks with Turkey in London in June+February, 5438. Due to the intervention of two imperialist groups, the negotiations between the warring parties dragged on and on until 19 13 May 30th, when the London Peace Treaty was signed. According to the London Peace Treaty, Turkey's territory in Europe belongs to all Balkan countries except Istanbul and a few nearby areas. Recognize Albania's independence.

After the first Balkan War, due to the provocation of various imperialists, there were serious differences among Balkan countries in the distribution of fruits. Bulgaria acquired most of the land in Macedonia and Thrace, which made Greece and Serbia very dissatisfied with the result. So Serbia and Greece signed an anti-insurance alliance treaty with each other in June 19 13, and then Romania joined. Russia wants to use the anti-insurance alliance against Germany and Austria-Hungary, and then declares its support for the alliance. In order to fight against Russia, Austria-Hungary declared its support for Bulgaria. 1965438+On June 29th, 2003, Bulgaria launched the second Balkan War with the support of Austria-Hungary. As a result, Bulgaria was defeated by the allies of Serbia, Greece, Romania, Yemen and Turkey. In August of the same year 10, the two sides signed a peace treaty in Bucharest. However, this war made Bulgaria lose most of the land it gained in the first Balkan War, and at the same time lost some of its original land.

The first Balkan War is usually regarded as a just national liberation war, while the second Balkan War is regarded as an unjust territorial war.

After the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria actively took refuge in Germany and Austria-Hungary for revenge. Serbia, Greece and Romania have also turned to the same allies. In this way, the conflict between the two groups over the interests of the Balkan region and the contradictions between Balkan countries became more intense, which eventually led to the outbreak of World War I.

The Balkans has experienced ups and downs. After World War II, Yugoslavia, Romania and Bulgaria in the Balkans successively established socialist regimes. The drastic changes in eastern Europe stimulated ethnic contradictions in this region, and Yugoslavia was torn apart. After World War II, Europe was the only country that had an armed conflict or war in the Balkans.

Therefore, the Balkans have always been regarded as a powder keg in Europe.