The new state, squeezed between the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian Empires, with Slavic populations on its southwestern, southern, and northeastern borders, the Black Sea due east, and Hungarian neighbors on its western and northwestern borders, looked to the West, particularly France, for its cultural, educational, and administrative models.
Uus riik, surutuna Osmanite, Austria-Ungari ja Venemaa vahele, slaavi rahvastikuga edela-, lõuna- ja kirdepiiridel, Musta merega idas ning Ungari naabritega lääne- ja loodepiiridel, vaatas lääne, eriti Prantsusmaa suunas, otsides omale kultuurilist, hariduslikku ja haldusmudelit.