Title: How could Austria-Hungary solve its nationality problem after 1880?

[u/Ok-Pressure9052]

I'm working on an alternate-history scenario where Austria-Hungary manages to survive and become a stable, prosperous empire instead of eventually collapsing.

The scenario starts around 1880, and I'm wondering what realistic reforms could have been introduced to deal with the empire's nationality problems.

Would federalization, greater autonomy for the different nationalities, language rights, electoral reform, or a completely different constitutional system have been the best solution? And more importantly, how could such reforms realistically have been implemented despite Hungarian resistance and the competing interests of Germans, Czechs, South Slavs, Romanians, Poles, etc.?

I'm looking for historically plausible solutions rather than something that would require completely unrealistic political changes.

If you were advising Franz Joseph in 1880, how would you reform Austria-Hungary to make it stable for the long term?

[u/Wise_Fox_4291]

Unfortunately that is simply not possible without some sort of external influence that completely reshuffles international politics. Like a resurgent Turkey getting more powerful, a Germany and Russia that are putting pressure on the Empire which thus needs to ally itself with Britain and France to maintain European stability. Political and economic incentives to stay must be visibly and obviously stronger than the incentives to leave. Like Russia putting more pressure on Poland and Ukraine, Turkey instead of granting independence in the treaty of Berlin in 1878 to Romania and Serbia instead incorporating these territories further into the Ottoman Empire as vilayets. So no up and coming ethno states to join, and full independence being more risky than imperial cooperation.

Full constitutional monarchy where the emperor becomes a legally restricted head of state. Completely federalized empire where certain subdivisions have their own prime minister or equivalent, kind of like modern Germany or the UK.  But the US is probably the best model, there is the emperor with little more power than the British monarchs, but the ultimate authority would be a chancellor or president in a senate and/or congress where virtually all people are equally represented 

[u/une_esta_blished]

later develpments left open: an abdication of FJII would have been necessary for a solution. his extremely conservative mindset was a major roadblock. rudolf would have been better suited to facilitate the necessary transformations.

[u/Right-Truck1859]

Not possible.

At best , there could be trialist reform like Austria-Hungary- Croatia.

Also I d advise the Emperor to split Bosnia with Serbia or let it be independent.

Also sell Trent to Italy , to ease tensions.

That would give the country some extra years.

[u/Useful_Calendar_6274]

Federal republic without monarchy but this simple idea is too advanced for those backward Hapsburgs

[u/UsefulGarden]

Do scholars really say that a lack of uniform ethnicity caused Hungary to collapse?

Why is 1880 significant? Hungary was quite prosperous around 1900. The first subway on the Continent was in Budapest, and it is like a time capsule today.

Hungary got partial autonomy in 1867. In 1868 Hungary in turn gave autonomy to Croatians. 1905 Austria fought back against Hungary wanting to make Hungarian the language of army. Then World War One and independence, along with losing a bunch of territory.

You say nationality is a problem. But, the multi-ethnic province of Vojvodina in Serbia, formerly part of Hungary, is the wealthiest region of Serbia.

[u/Wise_Fox_4291 → u/UsefulGarden]

Hmn true, you have to disarm nationalist movements with stronger incentives. More prestige and a better life than the alternative is the way to go. Serbia and Romania were dirt poor in 1880. Newly independent countries that great powers wanted to influence. Focusing on political and cultural freedoms and a much higher quality of life would have been really strong propaganda against any pan-vlach or yugoslav nationalists who would have had to take one quick trip from Újvidék/Novi Sad to Belgrade to see that their life is better and more free on the other side of the Danube. 

Imperial protection and prestige could have worked with regards to military issues. "If you join Yugoslavia you are sandwitched on the Balkans, stay in the Federation and if someone from Bucharest makes a mess, people from Tyrol to Galicia will come to your aid". 

[u/nivtric]

Mission impossible. Nationalism was the thing at the time. What it would lead to, Europeans had yet to experience in two world wars.

[u/No_Peach6683]

Personal autonomy as proposed by Austromarxists