The Balkan Civil Wars: Can They Be Contained?
Abstract
This paper addresses the roots of Yugoslavia's breakup and civil war, the prospects for a regional war and its potential impact on U.S.-European security, and a strategy to contain the conflict. In concert with the diplomatic initiatives to bring peace to Bosnia, and again to Croatia, and the politico-military steps to protect ethnic-Albanian Kosovars and Macedonia, the United Nations should organize a Conference on Balkan Security charged with negotiating agreements that can facilitate a long-term basis for peace, security, liberty, and prosperity for the peoples of the former Yugoslavia and the surrounding Balkan states. The United States and NATO could play leading roles. These initiatives would symbolize America's continued commitment to European security in the evolving new European order. With U.S. leadership, NATO can assert its continued role as a critical strand of continuity during the tumultuous transition now underway in Central and Eastern Europe. Otherwise, as each additional crisis develops in the future, the United States will find itself increasingly acting in a reactive way, rather than a proactive way. Placing the current Balkan crisis within a framework that defines the future U.S. role in Europe will give U.S. policy makers more solid ground for the critical decisions ahead in the evolving new world order.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA441097
Entities
People
- Dennis Mcdowell
Organizations
- National War College