1. Yugoslavia

2. Yugoslavia was created at the end of WWI (just like Czechoslovakia)
Six Republics made up the unsteady nation
After WWII these regions remained together because of the strict communist government
2 dozen independent ethnic groups

3. Serbia and Montenegro Kept the name Yugoslavia until 2003
Rugged peaks in Montenegro and plains in Serbia
6.5 million of the 10.6 million people are Serbs.
Wars that occurred in this region created great economic problems
At one point unemployment was at 50%

4. Croatia ¾ of the 5 million people are Croats.
Croats come from the Slavic People just like the Serbs and both almost speak identical languages.
Serbs practice Eastern Orthodoxy and use Cyrillic alphabet were as most Croats are Roman Catholics and use a Latin alphabet.
After Croatia declared its independence, Serbs within its borders fought to gain their independence.
Because of this fighting political and economic uncertainty continues.

5. Slovenia Maintained close ties with Western Europe
Industrial development took place earlier than other parts of the Balkan Peninsula and because of this Slovenia is expected to recover quickly

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Independent in 1991
Complex mix 6 people – 2 were Serbs, 1 was Croat and the other 3 call themselves Bosniaks
War erupted when Communism ended
A treaty in 1995 ended the fighting and broke the nation into two equal parts; one controlled by Bosniaks and Croats and the Other controlled by Bosnian Serbs.

7. Macedonia
In 2001 conflict flared among ethnic groups – Issues of culture and national identity, particularly language were at the center of dispute
Macedonians felt that a single official language would better ensure national unity
The U.S. does not have an official language instead it has a national language

8. Kosovo Officially a province of Serbia
3 out of 4 residents in Kosovo were Albanian
Serbia would not grant Kosovo independence and a war began
Kosovo’s army began to fight against the Serbs
An air campaign was finally launched to drive Serbian forces from the region.
Despite massive aid, recovery was slow and half of the people in Kosovo still live in poverty