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During the 1930s economic problems underlined the differences between these two political groupings and the impoverished mass electorates of most of the states. The conservative and bourgeois parties tended to be nationalistic, which had two important effects. Firstly nationalistic symbols were used to divert attention from domestic problems. The second and more complex effect occurred where, in a multi-national state, one nation obtained control and attempted to impose its· symbols and aspirations upon the other nationalities, thereby aggravating and radicalising minorities.

Throughout the nineteenth century, Austria became gradually weaker and more dependent upon Germany. But Germany and Russia continued to 18 Politics and Society in Eastern Europe pursue activist policies in the region, which both regarded as vital to their interests. Possibly both saw the First World War as an opportunity to consolidate their East European interests. Certainly the peace settlement ofl919 was predicated on the fact of German and Russian absence from the area. Geographically Eastern Europe is divided into three identifiable physical regions.

From early modern times Eastern Europe had been ruled by four dynastic empires which were hostile to the idea of the nation state: Austria, Russia, Prussia and Turkey. During the eighteenth century Turkey was gradually removed from Europe, a process finally completed in 1912. Throughout the nineteenth century, Austria became gradually weaker and more dependent upon Germany. But Germany and Russia continued to 18 Politics and Society in Eastern Europe pursue activist policies in the region, which both regarded as vital to their interests.