Just to help some of you:
That moment when the GM rages because you're all researching to extreme measures, and you decide to post your continuation of it.
So, countries in the Balkans and so forth just don't have the money for it. Research what you want, you have 0 cash to pay for it. The majority of these countries were ruled by conservative governments, all (the capitalists, the nobility) were against most of the industralisation during the early processes. You're far behind economically. Serbia is bankrupt and taking such massive loans from France it's digging its own grave, for example (read/look it up). Not to mention the war that you just had. War damages, economic relieves and bulstering. You're busy enough with just rebuilding your already non-existing industry.
The Ottoman Empire dissolving 50% of its irregular army and replacing it by far less professional soldiers was one of the only realistic actions I've read so far. As for countries like Greece, Bulgaria and so forth: No. You first need to get money. Ask another Western nation for a loan or so to bulster your economies to these measures, else it's not going to work for you. "Start the research of" How about "Start the construction of colleges and universities" first? :S Your major exports are...cattle...wheat... Change a farming society into a highly educated, arms-manufactring and researching, well-off economically nation over night? I don't think so.
Anyway, that's just my opinion and a
very brief summary of some of the situations that are now going on in the BoP. I hope this helps some of you understand things a little more, that it clarifies a little. That's my ranting done.
