Charles River Editors

Much has been written about Western intervention during the breakup of Yugoslavia, and whether it made matters worse, prevented worse atrocities, or was simply ineffective. In early 1992, however, what was clear was that Europe was hopelessly divided over the best course of action to take towards Yugoslavia, and after several years of fighting, the Bosnian War was one of the most violent conflagrations in Europe since the end of World War II. 

 Depending on the source, many authors have focused on different catalysts for Yugoslavia’s demise, but Vesna Drapac may have succinctly summed the situation up when he wrote that by the end, the state “lacked a reason to exist.” There is certainly something in this sentiment, but the disintegration came at an enormous cost.

 Given what happened in Yugoslavia, it should be little surprise that Bosnia did not have its fully-established borders until the 19th century, and even in modern times, in many respects the people distinguished and defined Bosnia as a polity more than its shifting borders, and regardless of whether Bosnia operated as an independent state or kingdom. It was during the Middle Ages that Bosnia’s culture and ethnic makeup truly began to coalesce, despite the politically rocky nature of the era in the Balkans.

KC Wayman

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