Bosnia-Hercegovina: The First of the Little Wars
Abstract
In 1991, a secessionist revolt and prolonged ethnic fighting began to push Yugoslavia into the final crisis of its turbulent history. Yugoslavia was comprised of six republics-Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegoniva, Montenegro, and Macedonia--and two provinces--and two provinces--Vojvodina and Kosovo (see Chart 1). From the country's inception in 1918, Yugoslav history has been marked by continual tension between Serbian efforts to dominate a centrally controlled state and other groups' attempts to assert their autonomy in a looser political structure. The worst fighting has taken place in Bosnia--Hercegovina, where Bosnian Serbs, with material support from Serbia, have seized approximately 70% of the republic's territory. The land grab has been accompanied by brutal Serbian ethnic cleansing campaigns against the Bosnian Muslims, more than two million people are homeless which equals numbers seen in WWII. These homeless civilians are flooding into nearby Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, and are putting a significant drain on these already war-weary economies. United States' policy regarding this crisis has changed several times.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA280672
Entities
People
- Stephen E. Bozarth
Organizations
- Air War College