An Unrealized Reality: Some Views on Danubian Federation

Abstract

During the nineteenth century, most of East Central Europe lay within the realm of the Habsburg empire. At the same time, nationalism was on the ascendance throughout the continent. The national groups sought recognition within the empire and when that became unavailable they pursued other means. Politicians and intellectuals proposed the organization of the Danubian
basin into a cohesive federation. They were by no means uniform in their approach and on the contrary had wide-ranging views and loyalties. Their common goal was the formation of a union that would give their co-nationals national and civil rights.