1. What is Ethnic Cleansing?
Chapter 7: Ethnicity Key Issue #4

2. Ethnic Cleansing in Europe
Ethnic cleansing – removal of an entire ethnic group in an effort to make a region homogeneous ethnically
Has come to mean the slaughter and attempt to exterminate an ethnic group
WWII was the largest forced migration in history
German Nazis moved ethnic minorities into concentration camps

3. Ethnic Cleansing in Europe
Multiethnic Yugoslavia
7 neighbors: 3 democracies (Austria, Greece, & Italy) and 4 communist states (Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, & Romania)
6 republics: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia
5 nationalities: Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrens, Serbs, & Slovenes
4 official languages: Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, & Slovene
3 major religions: Roman Catholic (north), Orthodox (east), & Islam (south)
2 alphabets: Croatian & Slovene – Roman alphabet, Macedonian & Serbian in the Cyrillic alphabet
1 form of money = dinar

4. Ethnic Cleansing in Europe
Destruction of Multiethnic Yugoslavia
Bosnia & Herzegovina – after death of leader Josip Broz Tito
Serbs, Croatians, and Muslims fought for control of land
Bosnian Serbs attempted to wipeout Bosnian Muslims
After settling conflict:
Serbs controlled about 50% and Croatians & Muslims controlled 25% ea.
Kosovo
Disagreement between Serbia and Albanian majority in Kosovo
Serbia invaded and took over
US & NATO intervened and Serbia withdrew
Balkanization – break down of a state based on its ethnic make-up
Beginning of WWI & WWII
Beginning of WWIII!?

5. Ethnic Cleansing in Central Africa
Hutu & Tutsi
Battle for land in Rwanda
Tutsi minority ruled
After independence, Hutu attacked Tutsi
With UN support, Tutsi regained control
Spilled over into Burundi
Finally the Congo
5.4 million dead during conflict!