Why was the issue of nationalism more complicated in the Habsburg lands than elsewhere in central Europe?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Nationalism was complicated in Austria-Hungary because the territories were more ethnically and culturally diverse than any other region in central Europe. While there was a general accord and maintenance of peace within the Habsburg lands, there was conflict and rivalry among several of the territories, particularly over the issues of retaining local cultural rights such as the use of native languages. When the Hungarians declared their independence from Vienna, one of the Hungarian dependent states, Croatia, sided with the Habsburg emperor, believing that would help them protect local traditions. Similar situations existed within the German states, particularly as a Czech historian declined to participate in the Frankfurt Assembly, stating that his interests were for Czech adherence to the Habsburgs rather than a secession movement. He felt that the cultural and political rights of small nations like his were better assured in a large multinational empire than in a nation-state like the one the representatives at Frankfurt envisioned. The Slavic Congress in Prague in 1848 sought protection for the use of Slavic languages while reinforcing their loyalty to the Habsburg Empire, but at the same time advocated for closer relations with the Russian Empire and Ottoman Empire Slavs. The Austrian emperor responded by dispersing the Congress at gunpoint.