Balkan Conflicts in the 1990s Notes

Overview

1. The Balkan conflicts of the 1990s were a series of violent wars that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia.
2. They were fueled by
   1. Ethnic nationalism
   2. The collapse of communist rule
   3. Economic hardship
   4. Ambitions of political leaders
3. These wars included
   1. The Slovenian Ten-Day War (1991)
   2. The Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995)
   3. The Bosnian War (1992–1995)
   4. The Kosovo War (1998–1999)

Reasons for the Conflicts

1. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe removed the authoritarian structures that had kept Yugoslavia’s ethnic tensions in check.
2. Economic crisis in the 1980s undermined unity and fueled resentment.
3. Ethnic nationalism surged, with each republic’s leaders prioritizing their own group’s independence or dominance.
4. Weak central authority after the death of Josip Broz Tito (1980)
5. Milošević’s Serbian nationalism heightened tensions with Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
6. International recognition of breakaway states (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia) without a peace framework.

Key Developments

1. Slovenia (1991)
   1. Brief Ten-Day War
   2. Minimal casualties
   3. Slovenia gained independence quickly.
2. Croatia (1991–1995)
   1. Fighting between Croat forces and ethnic Serb militias backed by the Yugoslav People’s Army
   2. Ended with Croatian victory.
3. Bosnia (1992–1995)
   1. Multi-sided war between Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs
   2. Worst atrocities included the Srebrenica massacre (1995).
   3. NATO intervened with airstrikes, leading to the Dayton Accords.
4. Kosovo (1998–1999):
   1. Conflict between Serb forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)
   2. Marked by ethnic cleansing of Albanians
   3. NATO bombed Serbia to force withdrawal.

Consequences

1. Human cost
   1. Over 100,000 killed in Bosnia alone
   2. Millions displaced across the region.
2. War crimes trials
   1. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) prosecuted leaders, including Milošević.
3. New borders
   1. Yugoslavia fragmented into independent states (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo (disputed).
4. Economic devastation
   1. Infrastructure destroyed
   2. Years of rebuilding required.
5. Ethnic division
   1. Societies became more homogenous through forced displacement.
6. NATO’s expanded role
   1. Strengthened precedent for humanitarian intervention without UN approval.