The Politics of Managing Pluralism: Austria-Hungary 1867-1918

Abstract

The multi-cultural nature of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the late nineteenth century created much unrest among the many different ethnic groups within the Empire. As each group struggled against the other groups for more rights, dissolution threatened the Empire. The Hapsburg government under Franz Joseph used two different strategies in Austria and Hungary to keep the country united, and these strategies successfully kept the Empire together for half a century.  After the Emperor’s death, opposing interests and separatism proved too powerful without Franz Joseph’s uniting influence, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed.