The fragmentation of Yugoslavia : nationalism and war in the Balkans

The fragmentation of Yugoslavia is a culmination of the process of creation of nation states in the region which started early in the 19th century. Already at the time the national ideologies of Serbs and Croats - as well as the national ideologies of other national groups which emerged later - were in conflict over their respective territorial claims. This book traces the re-emergence of these national ideologies, their impact on the ensuing civil wars as well as the international efforts to end them. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Yugoslavia at the Crossroads of Competing National Myths....Pages 3-24 The First Yugoslavia....Pages 25-34 World War II....Pages 35-45 The Second Yugoslavia....Pages 47-58 Front Matter....Pages 59-59 From a Centralised State to a Semiconfederation....Pages 61-74 The Loss of Legitimacy 1980–89....Pages 75-84 The Rise of Nationalism: From Dissidence to Power 1980–90....Pages 85-99 The Rise of New National Elites 1987–90....Pages 101-123 On the Road to War 1990–91....Pages 125-134 Wars for Independence: Slovenia and Croatia 1991–95....Pages 135-156 Bosnia-Hercegovina: an Unfinished National Liberation?....Pages 157-184 Kosovo: National Liberation Through Foreign Intervention....Pages 185-200 Epilogue: National Liberations: is there an end to them?....Pages 201-209 Back Matter....Pages 211-243 "World War I created the state of Yugoslavia in 1918 and, in a series of wars, starting in 1991, Yugoslavia was replaced by several new and smaller states. The victors had always presented these wars as wars of national liberation: each war was fought for the sacred cause of national liberty. The book traces the origins of ideologies, appealing to the cause of national liberty, and outlines their use in the creation of new states and new political regimes in the Balkans."--BOOK JACKET

World War I created the state of Yugoslavia in 1918 and, in a series of wars, starting in 1991, Yugoslavia was replaced by several new and smaller states. The victors had always presented these wars as wars of national liberation: each war was fought for the sacred cause of national liberty. The book traces the origins of ideologies, appealing to the cause of national liberty, and outlines their use in the creation of new states and new political regimes in the Balkans.