ABSTRACT
The emergence of Austria-Hungary’s militant diplomacy and prestige politics in the course of the First and Second Balkan War and the manner in which the experience of 1912-13 shaped the Habsburg Monarchy’s foreign policy in 1914 are at the core of Williamson’s analysis. The limited success of Austria’s militant diplomacy in 1912 and 1913 offered no real compensation. Even more threatening, Germany still trusted Romania and Italy, favored Greece, and did nothing to support Austria-Hungary’s belated imperialistic aspirations in Asia Minor. Austria-Hungary’s freedom of action had depended on German support; Germany’s blank check provided Vienna with an opportunity to turn the tables. The account of domestic political developments in Austria, for example, is much more detailed than that on the situation in Hungary. The impact of the war on Austria-Hungary’s economy, society, culture and mentality still needs to be scrutinized, and this can only be done on a regional basis.
