Czechoslovak-Yugoslav relations within the broader European context during the Interwar period (1918-1939)

During the Interwar period (1918-1939), Czechoslovak-Yugoslav relations were influenced by a complex web of political, economic, and ideological factors within the broader European context. Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia emerged as new nation-states after the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and their interactions reflected the challenges and opportunities faced by many European countries in the aftermath of World War I. During this period, they had rich political, economic, and cultural relations and were among the main pillars of the post-war French security system in Central and South-East Europe.

 

 

Milan Balaban is a historian, he completed his bachelor's studies at the University of Banja Luka and pursued master's and doctoral studies at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. His doctoral dissertation focused on "Yugoslav-Czechoslovak Economic Relations between 1918-1938." Notably, Milan Balaban received recognition for his dissertation work when he was awarded the best work on the economic history of the Balkans in 2016. His academic career has included positions at the Department of History in Banja Luka, and since 2015, he has been employed as a scientific researcher and historian at the Bata Information Centre at Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic.

Balaban's primary research areas encompass the history of the Bata Company and Czechoslovak-Yugoslav economic relations. He has contributed to academic scholarship by publishing numerous articles in Czech and foreign scientific journals. Additionally, he has authored and co-authored books, including "The Bata Company in Yugoslavia" (published in 2018) and "Bata Across Continents" (published in 2022).

His research and expertise have taken him to various academic institutions worldwide, including the Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, India, Canada, and former Yugoslavia. His work has contributed significantly to understanding economic and historical relations between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, as well as the history of the Bata Company.