- I s s u e s -
Bosnia-Herzegovina

Ethnic Crisis
For three and one half years, there has been continuous fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This fighting is the result of a mistake made after World War I. This mistake was the formation of Yugoslavia. It was established amongst several different cultures. The former Yugoslavia strived to form an identity throughout its existence, with no success. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia also disbanded its communist government. Many important questions were left unanswered. Who would lead this country out of communism? How would this country stay unified? Would there be peace?

Everything in the Balkans since the collapse of communism in eastern Europe has gone wrong. The situation in Bosnia, like that of the Balkans in general, is complex. The Serbs, Muslims, Croats, and other smaller ethnic groups were all vying for power. This is the cause of the war in Bosnia. These ethnic groups despise each other so much that they are fighting to destroy the other races while trying to defend its own.

The process of "ethnic cleansing" was thus initiated. This entailed massacre, gang rape, and concentration camps. There were several cases of war crimes and atrocities. Some have been tried in court, but many are still under investigation.

The war was brought to a cease-fire in October 1995. A peace accord was signed in Dayton, Ohio in December 1995. A line has been cut through the middle of Bosnia, separating the Bosnian Serbs from Muslims and Croats. NATO has been brought in to keep the peace. However, each group maintains its nationalistic views, thus making it harder for a united Bosnia to ever exist again.

There may never be a solution to this problem.

 

Discuss This Issues!

-ORGANIZATIONS-
Return to Issues Page