Austro-Hungarian cultural and ecclesiastical policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the late 19th century as evaluated by the Russian academic and slavist P. A. Lavrov

Abstract

The article analyses the views of the famous Russian academic, expert in the Balkan Studies, P.A. Lavrov on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the second half of the 19th century after the occupation of this territory by Austria-Hungary. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the ecclesiastical and cultural policy of the Austrian authorities on the situation in that region as well as to the consequences of this policy. P.A. Lavrov stressed the injustice of the occupation of Bosnia by Austria-Hungary and noted that from the very beginning of Austrian domination in this region of the Balkans, the Austrian administration pursued a policy aimed at systematic suppressing of the Orthodox Church, wide-scale support for the Catholic Church and the spreading of the Croatian national identity among the local Slavic population. For example, school textbooks in Bosnia were written by Croatian scholars who interpreted the local Slavic population of the Catholic faith as Croats. To more effectively implement this policy, the Austrian authorities have established effective control over the Orthodox Church and over the school system in Bosnia. In addition, the Austrian authorities facilitated the resettlement of Czechs and Poles loyal to Austria to the region, providing them with jobs as officials, police and gendarmerie employees, and entrepreneurs. This policy, carried out systematically and consistently for decades, contributed to a sharp strengthening of the position of the Catholic Church in the region and the spread of Croatian identity among the local Slavic population.