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Serbia's quest for alliances often alienated potential supporters, especially due to its violent repression of minority groups within its borders, notably Muslims. This created a paradox; while Serbia sought to unify Slavic peoples, it mirrored the oppressive tactics employed by Austria-Hungary against its own ethnic minorities. This volatility made it difficult for Serbia to gain sympathy from other European nations, who were accustomed to reading about the region’s unending violence—murders and political upheaval seemed to be the norm.