Question

 What is meant by Pan-Slav Movement? Why did it add to conflict between Austria and Russia?

Answer 1

Pan-Slav Movement was a movement which was started by the Balkan States against the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
Turkey was a powerful nation during the 15th and 16th century and she had control over the Balkan States, but the Turkish power began to decline in the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result, Austria, Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia began to increase their influence. It created rivalry and enmity among these nations especially between Russia and Austria.
In order to fish in the troubled waters, Russia encouraged the different Balkan States to raise a standard of revolt against the collapsing Ottoman Empire. The Russian Czars hoped that these Balkan States would come under their control once Turkey was ousted from those states. It was with this aim in view that Russia started the Pan-Slav Movement among the Balkan States. But, many areas of Austria-Hungary., were also inhabited by the Slavs. Thus, this Pan-Slav Movement was as much a danger to Austria-Hungary as it was to the Ottoman Empire. Thus, Russia’s encouragement to the Pan-Slav Movement greatly estranged the relations between Russia and Austria.
When (in 1908) Austria annexed the two provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia fanned the fire and consequently some (six) years later in 1914, a Serbian, backed by Russia, killed Aracduke Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Austria. This very incident precipitated the war. Thus the First World War was the direct result of the Pan-Slav Movement.