Factors Contributing to
the Collapse of
Yugoslavia
Ideologies
Nationalism
ethnic nationalism
ethnic groups within the Federal Yugoslav state felt
that they were genetically superior to the other
ethnic groups in the respective republics
Used by Milošević
encouraged Serbian dominance
Arguably was the main factor
that caused the disintegration
of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavian Nationalism
Encouraged by Tito
Achieved by encouraging
ethnic diversity within the
Yugoslavian states
Caused the war in Bosnia and Croatia
"I never wanted an
independent Bosnia. I
wanted Yugoslavia.
That is my country."
Emir Kusturica Read
Socialism
Broke with the USSR and
formed their own socialist
regieme
Cultivated by Josep Tito
an 'advanced'
socialist regieme
“The only differences one can and should
allow in socialism are between hard
working people and idlers and between
honest people and dishonest people.”
Slobodan Milosevic
Historical
Serbians seen as
dominant and opressive
Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in 1941
Croatia formed an alliance with the Axis invaders
Awarded a puppet state for
Croatias allegiance that included
Bosnia
pursued a policy of racial
and ethnic persecution
established their own concentration camps for Serbs, Jews and Gypsies
Rest of Yugoslavia fought back against the invaders
Leaders
Josip Broz Tito
(Yugoslavian
president1943-80)
Ruled Yugoslavia
dictatorially
United the people of Yugoslavia
by ruling with an iron fist
Titos motto
"Brotherhood and
unity" discouraged
Nationalism and held
Yugoslavia together
His death ‘deprived
the country…of a
unifying symbol
Slobodan Milošević
Encouraged Serbian
ethnic nationalism
strived to form a ‘state in which one
national group was dominant’ that
group being Serbians
Provoked
ethnic
conflict
to maintain their power at a
time of political uncertainty
Political
Communism
Communism seen as an
illegitimate political system
at the end of the cold war
Fall of the Berlin wall1989
Some of the
Yugoslavian public
to loose faith in a
communist
government
Republic Socialist
Federation of
Yugoslavis
Developed and
overseen by Josip Tito
Government
strongly dominated
by Serbs
Geographical
6 Republics of Yugoslavia
Serbia
Kosovo
Within Serbia, contained a huge number of ethnic albanians
Vojvodina
Slovenia
Montenegro
Croatia
Republic borders
are not necessarily a
reflection of ethnic
borders (see image)
Croatia
12% Serbian minority
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
44% Muslim
12% Croats
32% Serbians
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Macedonia
Ethnicities spread out over the whole country
Encouraged by Tito as
he believed it would
create a more united
Yugoslavia
Exploited by Milošević
Cultural
Ethnic hatreds
Slovenians
Croatians
Despised by Serbs for
the genocide that took
place during WW2
Serbians
The 'first' Yugoslavia
dominated by serbs
Ruled by the
Serbian royal family
Ethnic minorities
were pitted
against majorities
in different areas
Especially prevelant in bosnia
"Freedom is not empowerment.
Empowerment is what the Serbs
have in Bosnia. Anybody can
grab a gun and be empowered."
P. J. O'Rourke Read more at
"He was driven by the idea that when
Milosevic grabs a part of Bosnia, Croatia
should get a piece of it, too." Stjepan Mesic
Read more at
Bosnian
Albanian
Kosovo homes a
large number of
ethnic Albanians
“Many of these targets are indeed the
brains behind the brutality going on in
Kosovo today, part of the apparatus
that is driving this ethnic genocide that
is going on inside this part of former
Yugoslavia,” George Robertson
Differences and
tensions supresed under
communist rule
Conflicts
when countries formally part of
Yugoslavia declared independence,
ethnic minorities rebel after as they
find themselves in a country that does
not reflect their wishes of cultural views
Bosnia and Herzegovina
independence (1992-95)
Serbian minority
fought to rejoin
Serbia and
Yugoslavia
Bosnia and
Herzegovina Serbs
attempt to declare a
Yugoslavian state
Croatian minority
also added tension
Genocide against the Bosnian Muslim
population was carried out seperetly by
Serbian and Croatian forces
Ethnic clensing
Slovenian independence (1991)
little conflict as most of the
population was ethnic slovenian
ethnic minorities present
Croatian independence
(1991-95)
Serbian minority attempts
to remain part of Yugoslavia
Serbians have support of
Yugoslavian army. 4 year
war ensues
Kosovo uprisings-1998
Albanians living within the
Serbian provence began
fighting for their
independence from Serbia
Serbian Army intervenes and
attacks Albanians resulting is
many Kosovo-Albanian refugees
and NATO intervention