Ethnic Conflict and Genocide: Reflections on Ethnic Cleansing in the Former Yugoslavia

1996 ◽  
Vol 548 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAMIR MIRKOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Conflict ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing

Historical Writing in the Balkans

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Brunnbauer
Keyword(s):  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
The Other ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing ◽  
Historical Writing ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Balkan Countries ◽  
The One ◽  
The Way

This chapter analyzes historiography in several Balkan countries, paying particular attention to the communist era on the one hand, and the post-1989–91 period on the other. When communists took power in Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia in 1944–5, the discipline of history in these countries—with the exception of Albania—had already been institutionalized. The communists initially set about radically changing the way history was written in order to construct a more ideologically suitable past. In 1989–91, communist dictatorships came to an end in Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, and Albania. Years of war and ethnic cleansing would ensue in the former Yugoslavia. These upheavals impacted on historiography in different ways: on the one hand, the end of communist dictatorship brought freedom of expression; on the other hand, the region faced economic displacement.

Enigmatic Bosnia Matters: Coexistence in Bavljinje during the Light and Darkness of Yugoslavia’s War

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Cardzic ◽  
Sean Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Conflict ◽  
Intergroup Conflict ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing ◽  
Positive Relationships ◽  
Interethnic Conflict ◽  
The Village

Constructive stories of coexistence during protracted interethnic conflict are rare; however, they have important implications for interethnic reconciliation and peacemaking (Senehi, 2002). The events that took place in the village of Bavljinje highlight the humanity displayed by neighbors in the midst of ethnic cleansing. Such stories illustrate that positive relationships can prevail in interethnic warfare and can be an important source of healing form the trauma of violent ethnic conflict. The story of Bavljinje also indicates the complexity of intergroup conflict and the need of such powerful metaphors in the postconflict peacebuilding process.

The (Lack of) Impact of the ICTY on the Public Memory of the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2020 ◽  
pp. 559-570
Author(s):  
Jovana Mihajlović Trbovc
Keyword(s):  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
International Criminal ◽  
Public Memory ◽  
International Criminal Tribunal ◽  
Public Domain ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Post War

This chapter tackles relations between facts established at the Tribunal and acknowledgement of these in the public domain of post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), where three ethnically defined and mutually contesting interpretations dominate the public forum. Examining how this problem unfolds, this chapter follows the development of the public memory about the war. It intersects with the relevant International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) jurisprudence, aiming to detect potential changes in the dominant narrative. It analyses public debates whether the war was a product of Serbian aggression or a civil war within Bosnia; whether ‘ethnic cleansing’ was pre-planned by the Serbian side or an inevitable consequence of the war (examined through the Prijedor case); whether genocide was the overall aim of the Serbian side or whether it took place only in Srebrenica; and whether the Croatian side was a defender of, or aggressor in BiH (examined through the Ahmići case).

Rejection of Radical Nationalism in Wartime Yugoslavia: The Case of Tuzla (1990–1995)

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-69
Author(s):  
Goran Filic
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
Ethnic Conflict ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Ethnic Violence ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Municipal Elections ◽  
Causal Mechanisms ◽  
Path Dependent ◽  
The City ◽  
Radical Nationalism

The article identifies causal mechanisms that help explain why the city of Tuzla managed to reject and avoid inter-ethnic conflict and radical nationalism during the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia. Despite the overwhelming odds of being surrounded by vicious ethnic fighting and relentless nationalist attacks, the city of Tuzla protected and sustained peace in its borders. This research provides some explanations as to why Tuzla managed to survive radical nationalism and fragmentation during the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. The article concludes that Tuzla's success was path dependent and its ability to reject violent nationalism revolved around Tuzla's identity of traditionally working class, anti-nationalist, anti-fascist forces around which Tuzla's citizens rallied. This helped elect the only non-ethnic political leadership in the country during the first multiparty municipal elections, and also actively protected citizens’ democratic choice against nationalist attempts to foster ethnic mobilisation and ethnic violence.

Constructing an Atrocities Regime: The Politics of War Crimes Tribunals

2001 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Rudolph
Keyword(s):  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
International Strategy ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
War Criminals ◽  
Hugo Grotius ◽  
Killing Fields ◽  
Human Desire ◽  
War Crimes Tribunals ◽  
National Reconciliation

From the notorious “killing fields” of Cambodia to programs of “ethnic cleansing” in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the grizzly nature of ethnic and identity-centered conflict incites horror, outrage, and a human desire for justice. While the drive to humanize warfare can be traced to the writing of Hugo Grotius, current efforts to establish an atrocities regime are unparalleled in modern history. Combining approaches in international relations theory and international law, I examine the role political factors (norms, power and interests, institutions) and legal factors (precedent and procedure) play in the development of an atrocities regime. International tribunals have convicted generally low-level war criminals in both Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, but they have had much more limited success in achieving their more expansive goals—deterring atrocities and fostering national reconciliation in regions fraught with ethnic violence. This analysis reveals additional institutional modifications needed to construct a more effective regime and highlights the importance of placing this new regime within a comprehensive international strategy of conflict management.

Historical Revelations from the Milošević Trial

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Armatta
Keyword(s):  
Civil Wars ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing ◽  
New Material ◽  
Slobodan Milosevic

Controversy over Serbia's1 role in the decade of wars in the former Yugoslavia continues. The trial of Slobodan Milošević unearthed significant new material in documents and testimony, despite the trial's premature end with Milošević's death. While there was no legal resolution, evidence revealed at trial provides a rich resource for historians to further examine some of the major controversies arising from the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the decade of wars that ensued. This article will highlight evidence relevant to the following issues: Was Serbia opposed to disintegration and war or did Milošević seek it in his quest for power? Were the wars in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina civil wars in which Serbia was not involved except to provide humanitarian aid and negotiate for peace or was Serbia a primary protagonist? What was Serbia's role, if any, in the Srebrenica genocide?2 Was Serbia, NATO or the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) responsible for war and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo? While the trial of Milošević did not attempt to establish Serbia's or the FRY's responsibility, actions taken by Milošević as Serbia's president and de facto leader of the FRY necessarily implicate them as political entities.

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