Ethnic Tensions in Yugoslavia

The Background: Yugoslavia

Before WWI: Many E. European countries under Austrian-Hungarian rule.

Austria-Hungary defeated in WWI, The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes created

Called this Yugoslavia

Ruled by Serbs, anti-Serb movement begins (especially within Croats)

During WWII: concentration camps in Croatia set up, killing Serbs, Jews, gypsies

Basically—lots of conflict before, during, and in-between wars!!

The Creation of Yugoslavia

Communist Yugoslavia created in 1945 under Josip Tito

Consisted of six “equal” republics: Serbia (Vojvodina & Kosovo were autonomous provinces)MontenegroMacedoniaSloveniaBosnia-HerzegovinaCroatia

Also consisted of over twenty ethnic groups

Had good relations with the west, economic stability

TensionsVojvodina & Kosovo granted autonomy by Tito in 1974; Serbians angered

1980: Tito diesTito’s influence kept nationalism, or pride in one’s country, at a minimum.

Tito’s death gave rise to ethnic tensions, especially in Kosovo between the Serbs & Albanians

1987: Serbian politician Slobodan Milosevic is sent to Kosovo to eliminate tensions.

Instead, he tells Serbs they will no longer be “mistreated” and begins Serbian nationalist movement

Independence Movements

Serbian nationalism breakup of Yugoslavia

Slovenia & Croatia: 1991Slovenia able to break away pretty easily

only 10 days of fighting, which Slovenia won

Problem with Croatia: had 12% Serb population causing about four years of fighting with Yugoslavia for independence.

1992 = Big YearBosnia & Herzegovina & Macedonia declare independence, major war in Bosnia

Serbia and Montenegro form Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with Milosevic as the leader (not recognized by the USA)

War in BosniaDeclared independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, recognized by the U.S. and the European Community (eventually the EU!)

Ethnically Diverse43% Muslim

31% Serbian

17 % Croatian

Serbs who lived there were determined to stay in Yugoslavia and help build a better Serbia

Ethnic Cleansing in B-H of Muslims & Croats by Bosnian Serbs, attack on capital city of Sarajevo

Thousands of Muslims were killed, others sent to concentration camps. All were tortured and living in horrible conditions, women and girls were raped.

Bosnian Genocide

List of the dead

World ReactionSecret concentration camps, mass killings & the destruction of mosques were being reported worldwide

United Nations placed economic sanctions on Serbia (wouldn’t trade with them), but wouldn’t send troops to fight the Serbians

Sarajevo attack:1994 agreement to stop attacking Muslims, but this was broken when Serbs attacked “safe havens” in Bosnia against Muslim-Croat alliance

Eventually, U.S.A. led bombing campaigns in 1995 when 8,000 men and boys were killed in a “Safe Haven”, Srebrenica---continued from August to October

Dayton Agreement

Created two self-governing entities within Bosnia:

Bosnian Serb Republic

Muslim-Croat Federation

(each of these had their own armies, parliament, & government)

Goals: Reintegration of Bosnia

Protection of human rights

Peacekeeping force created to make sure the agreement was being followed, keep areas separate

Dayton Agreement (1995)

More Current Events

1998: Kosovo Liberation Army (Albanian) came out in open rebellion against Serbians, wanted independence

Internationally, not agreed upon

Crisis + threats of military action in the west = NATO Air Strikes in March 1999

At the same time, the relationship between Serbia and Montenegro was fizzling, Montenegrin leaders wanted to distance themselves from Milosevic

The End of Yugoslavia

By 2003, Yugoslavia had disappeared and the “leftovers” became the union of Serbia and Montenegro

EU wanted to stop Montenegro’s quest for full independence, so this was the resulting arrangement

2006: Montenegro NARROWLY becomes independent, end of the union of Serbia & Montenegro

Montenegro becomes 192nd member of the UN in June, 2006.

What’s Happened Since Yugoslavia Ended?

Small bouts of ethnic conflict since early 2000s, but each event has been resolved

Slobodan Milosevic lost the Serbian presidential election of 2000 and was forced out of office by protests

Then charged with crimes against humanity in Kosovo, violating laws/customs of war, breaches in the Geneva Convention & genocide in Bosnia2006: charged with ordering the murder of former Serb president Ivan StambolicDied in March 2006 in UN war crimes detention center in the Netherlands (The HAGUE) awaiting end of his trial & the verdict

2008: Kosovo declares its independence