Deciphering the balkan Enigma: Using History to Inform Policy

Abstract

The author uses historical examination to shed light on the origins and bases of current conflicts in the Balkans. The study first addresses the long history of conflict that has plagued the region and led to violence becoming an accepted agent of change. The author then examines the religious, ethnic, and cultural divisions that undergird the ongoing conflicts in the region. He next explores the evolution of political institutions within the Balkans and how these political developments influence current events. Historical perspective gained is used to conduct a brief assessment of potential policy options for the region. He concludes that, while a number of options are possible, there are no 'good' options--all are flawed and fraught with drawbacks, risks, and costs.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA263463

Entities

People

  • William T. Johnsen

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Central Europe
  • Civil War
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Minority Groups
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Recreation
  • Terrain
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Sociology

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Systems Analysis and Design