Constructing the Balkans

Abstract

The eyes of the world’s media were very firmly focused on the Balkans during the Yugoslav civil wars between 1991 and 1995. Armed conflict first began in Slovenia when the Yugoslav People’s Army, as it was then called, was sent to recapture the border posts taken over by Slovenia’s territorials. That was at the end of June 1991. Then, the fighting spread to other regions, firstly to Croatia and later to Bosnia in April 1992. The world was shocked at the brutality shown to civilian populations and the ferocity of the destructive forces which spread throughout the region. Many diplomatic attempts were made to try and get the different factions to sit down and agree a peace plan. All such attempts failed because the leaders on all sides were prepared to lie about their intentions in order to influence the international community to see the justice of their side of the story. Sanctions were deployed against Serbia and Montenegro, known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from April 1992, for its part in fermenting conflict amongst the Serbian, Croatian and Moslem communities living in other republics of former Yugoslavia. Many angry and concerned citizens around the world urged their political leaders to become involved and help to stop the bloodshed of innocent people.