Bosnia Essays

Question 1

International community (US)

Answer 1

Lack of political will > UNPROFOR weak and structurally weak > Res 770 force for humanitarian aid delivery but always neutral cannot first shot > without US they weak af > can do nothing about war crimes cuz neutral > bystander > Serbs kidnap them in response to NATO no fly zone 400 peacekeepers hostage

Question 2

International community (EEC)

Answer 2

Owen-Stoltenberg Plan (July-Aug 1993) > partition plan > 3 ethnic republics > Serbs 53% Bosnians 30% Croats 17% > accepted by Croats > Croatian Republic of BiH formed in 28 Aug 1993 > Bosnians reject > Failed

Question 3

International community (UN)

Answer 3

Sep 1991 Res 713 arms embargo in all Yugoslav territories > deescalate tensions, prevent conflict > BUT Serbs have arms from JNA and Croatia provide arms for Bosniak and Croats to level the field (direct violation) > UN not effective

Question 4

US in resolution

Answer 4

Proactive stance in 1995 Shuttle diplomacy w Richard Holbrooke negotiates w Balkan leaders for settlement > Dayton Nov 1995 major ceasefire and end to Bosnia war - separate by ethnic lines > no solving of ethnic tensions > fragile society

Question 5

Serbia responsibility

Answer 5

Milosevic manipulation of forces > Bosnian soldiers in JNA moved to Bosnian Serb Army - assisted, fund, equip > enabled ethnic cleansing

Question 6

Ethnic nationalism (Serbs)

Answer 6

Bosnian Serbs ethnic violence
Srebenica Massacre July 1995 Surround Srebencia bombing sniping Muslims surround village surrender weapon kill all > 70 000 displaced, 3000 killed
Prijedor ethnic cleansing 1992-1993 systematic ethnic cleansing of non-Serbs in prijedor region > 50 000 to 6000 Bosniaks, 6000 to 3000 Croats

Question 7

Economic disparities (greater desire for independence)

Answer 7

Economic disparities > inefficient federal system > independence wanted
1980s Macedonia half income of Slovenia, Slovenia and Croatia way richer than poor areas like Kosovo > refusal to give more money to fed budget > resentment > desire for secession and independence > Serbs boycott Mar 1992 BiH independence > differing economic aims = conflict

Question 8

Economic hardships (strikes)

Answer 8

1980s Yugoslavia politically and economically unstable easily divided by ethnic lines > strikes a lot > 1990: 1900 strikes, inflation 2500%, workers income less 25% > Deep mistrust and competition > Serbs boycott 1992 Mar BiH independence

Question 9

Ethnic nationalism (all of them)

Answer 9

Division of ethnic lines due to developments around them > Slovenia and Croatia independence > Bosniaks and Croats fear of Serbs majority in Yugoslavia > Serbs scared of Bosniaks majority in Bosnia - fear of mistreatment > strongly against independence > motivated to use force