Crisis in the Balkans Balkanization—to beak up into small, mutually-warring factions.

Geographical Context Rugged mountains; no navigable rivers around which a national state can develop. Groups came into the peninsula and became isolated from one another, then developed separate ethnic identities.

Geographical context Strategic location where Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Islamic faiths meet.

Historical background Battle of Kosovo (1389)—the Serb army was wiped out by the Ottoman Turks. This began a period of Islamic rule in the Balkans In 1389 the Serb army was wiped out by the Ottoman Turks. This began a period of Islamic rule. It is a sacred site to Serbs today. Serbian soccer fans hold up banners showing the date of the Battle of Kosovo

Historical Background World War I and creation of Yugoslavia The spark that ignited World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian empire by a Serb nationalist. The Turkish Ottoman empire was weakened by the late 1800s. They allied with Germany during World War I and Yugoslavia (Land of the Southern Slavs) was created after the war. Before World War I After World War I

Historical Background World War II The Nazis overran and occupied the Balkans, then set up a “puppet” regime in Croatia. Croatia began a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Serbs.

Historical Background How are these concepts reflected on the map of Yugoslavia before the breakup? --Nation --State The patchwork of ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia. Any ethnic group is a nation. (the people) The country of Yugoslavia was a state. (the country)

Historical Background Rise of Tito Josip Broz Tito had been the head of the Yugoslav Communist Party and had organized an effective campaign against the Nazis. He came to power in 1945 and ruled unopposed for 35 years. Yugoslavia was a Communist country, but Tito did not answer to Moscow.

Historical Background Death of Tito and aftermath Tito died in 1980 at the age of 87. A system of autonomous regional governments had been set up (attempt was to divide along ethnic lines—an impossibility). This worked for 10 years until changes in Eastern Europe brought ideas of independence.

Ethnic Background The Serbs Cyrilic alphabet Serbian Orthodox Church The Serbs have historically been supported by Russia. Cyrilic alphabet Serbian Orthodox Church

Ethnic Background The Croats Catholic Roman alphabet The Croats are supported by the Germans and other Europeans. Roman alphabet

Ethnic Background The Bosnians (many had converted to Islam during Ottoman rule.)

All three groups are Slavic in background.

The Conflict Slobodan Milesovic (a Serb nationalist) came to power in 1987 and proposed a “greater Serbia.” Ethnonationalism—when the members of one ethnic group want to create a country for their own people. Irredentism—when members of a group in one country want to be united politically with others of their own ethnic group living on the other side of a political border. How are the concepts of ethnonationalism and irredentism reflected in Milesovic’s policies?

The Conflict Slovenia and Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia in1991. How would Serbia have reacted to Slovenia’s secession? How would Serbia have reacted to Croatia’s secession? Apply the concept of “nation-state” to the map.

The Conflict Bosnia seceded from Yugoslavia in 1992. How would Serbia have reacted when Bosnia seceded?

The Conflict Fighting in Croatia and Bosnia The conflict was brutal with the targeting of civilians and human rights violations.

The Conflict The role of the United Nations The United Nations does not have compulsive power. They can only act as peacekeepers. Why would it be difficult for the United Nations to establish order in the former Yugoslavia?

The Current Situation NATO troops replaced United Nations Troops The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed after WWII as a defensive alliance. The purpose was to stop the spread of communism. Today NATO is called upon to help restore peace in areas of conflict around the world. NATO (including US troops) continues to occupy Bosnia. What is NATO? When and why was it formed? What is its role today?

The Current Situation Division of Bosnia --What changes occurred in the ethnic distribution of Bosnia How successful were the Serbs with their campaign of ethnic cleansing? --What message would a division have sent to separatist groups here and elsewhere?

Kosovo Ethnic cleansing Ethnic cleansing occurs when a group of people are forced out of an area. Genocide occurs when the goal is the eradicate the people altogether. The Serb crackdown in Kosovo occurred in 1998 (after the end of fighting in Bosnia). The Serbs began to push the ethnic Albanians out. NATO responded quickly this time with air strikes against the Serbs. What is ethnic cleansing? How does it differ from genocide?

War Crimes Trials Slobodan Milesovic was arrested and taken to the Hague to stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity, including genocide He died in March of 2006 while on trial.

War Crimes Trials Radovan Karadzic—a Bosnian Serb politician—was charged with war crimes committed against Bosnian Muslims and also for acts During the siege of Sarajevo. He was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 and is currently awaiting trial. Karadzic had been hiding disguised as a doctor of alternative medicine.

Kosovo today The Kosovars declared independence in 1998. Since then, over 50 countries have recognized Kosovo. They are not in the UN—Russia would veto from the Security Council.

The Current Situation Montenegro Montenegro is now independent. From 2003 to 2006, it was part of a country officially called “Serbia and Montenegro”

The Current Situation Serbia Belgrade, Serbia Yugoslavia became “Serbia” after the Montenegrans established independence. Belgrade, Serbia

Current Situation Macedonia Macedonia had seceded from Yugoslavia without bloodshed. Greece refused to recognize Macedonia until it agreed to change its name to “The Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. (to distinguish itself from Macedonian region of Greece.