What was the primary driving force behind nationalism in the Balkans before World War One?

The primary driving force behind nationalism in the Balkans before World War One was the desire for independence and self-determination. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Balkan states were under the control or influence of larger empires, such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. The rise of nationalist sentiment in the region was fueled by a strong longing among various ethnic groups to establish their own sovereign nations, free from foreign domination.

This desire for self-determination manifested in movements that sought to create independent nation-states that reflected their unique cultural, historical, and linguistic identities. The Balkans were characterized by a myriad of ethnic groups, including Serbs, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Romanians, each vying for the right to govern themselves and reclaim their historical territories. This quest for national identity and sovereignty was a significant factor leading up to tensions and conflicts between these groups, ultimately contributing to the larger geopolitical struggles in Europe that precipitated World War I.

The other factors related to economic prosperity, colonial expansion, and military alliances were present but were not the primary motivations driving nationalism in the Balkans during this period. Economic prosperity often came as a consequence of national independence rather than a reason