Balkan Powder Keg

The "Balkan Powder Keg" refers to the volatile situation in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe before World War I. It describes how a mix of ethnic tensions, nationalistic aspirations, political alliances, and unresolved conflicts created a highly unstable environment. Any small incident, such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo, could quickly ignite widespread violence and potentially escalate into a larger war. The metaphor emphasizes the danger of underlying tensions waiting to explode, similar to a keg filled with gunpowder that could ignite with the slightest spark.