Abstract

This chapter gives an introduction to the history of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy’s colonial activities in Bosnia and Hercegovina from 1978 to 1918. The most important colonial institutions and political figures of the monarchy are introduced. The phases of occupation are discussed, along with the reaction of the native Muslim population, their resistance, and their absorption into the new political structure. Two policy fields are specifically analyzed: the monarchy’s restructuring and introduction of Islamic religious bureaucracy, a form of religious institution-building that promoted loyalty to the new colonial governors, and the subsequent institutionalization of Islamic religious education to educate new loyal and subservient Muslim subjects.