The Implications for Yugoslav Borders of the Dissolution of the Yugoslav State
Abstract
Yugoslavia, the artificial contrivance of countries that once were part of the Austro-Hungarian or the Ottoman Empires, has fallen apart. In 1991, nations and ethnic groups who were forced to live in that state became independent or at least expressed their desire to live free from Belgrade's tutelage and in some cases to join their fellow countrymen who dwell across the borders. This brings up border claims by neighboring states and desires for a revision of the boundaries drawn in the aftermath of World War I. While Italian fascists demand the restitution of former Italian territory in the independent Republic of Slovenia, Austria complies with her southern border, valuing Slovenia as the buffer towards the turbulent Balkans. Hungary expressed her intention to help her minority in Serbia, and at the same time is looking across the border where the Serbo-Croatian civil war destroyed the order of the area established after World War II. Romania is a factor of insecurity in the region: While Romance speaking groups, closely related to the Romanians, live across the border, Romania has to deal with the discontent of ill-treated minorities at home. Serbia is confronted with the wish of millions of Albanians not only to separate from the country but to join Albania. Bulgaria, Greece and Albania are in contention for parts or all of Macedonia, because of historical ties or of requests that result from modern movements of population. Those wishes and claims produce an atmosphere of tension and political unrest, which might conjure up the danger of a Third Balkan War , followed by a chain reaction the extent of which nobody can predict.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA249860
Entities
People
- Gunther E. Wolfframm
Organizations
- United States Army War College