On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, precipitating massive political change throughout Central and Eastern Europe. One by one, communist regimes, many of which had already been destabilized by economic insecurities, collapsed—in East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Only Yugoslavia, which had not been part of the Soviet empire, remained of the Cold War–era communist states.
The future would be an agony of the worst kind; it would arrive through blood and fire, in tears and sorrow, seeing the very destruction of the country—which would ultimately be fragmented into seven new nation-states.
The disintegration of Yugoslavia began in 1991 and continued until 1999. The worst of the mayhem took place between 1992 and 1995, and culminated—in the 50th anniversary year of the end of World War II—with the worst massacre on European soil since the Holocaust.
The entries in this book go a long way toward explaining how the conflict played out. They examine the leaders, ideas, movements, and events of the Bosnian War, placing the war into the earlier context of Yugoslavia’s history. As the forces unleashed by the collapse of Yugoslavia did not end in 1995, this book pursues the war’s horrific aftermath—one which led to another war in 1999, when the forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization combined to defeat the prospect of a further genocide, this time in the Serbian province of Kosovo.
It was a shocking way to usher in the new century but, as this had been the “Century of Genocide,” perhaps it was apt. After all, united international action to stop the possibility of genocide was at least an improvement on the inaction that had characterized nearly all responses across the previous hundred years.
The contributors to this volume have brought exacting standards to the task of enlightening readers as to what happened in this final paroxysm of 20th-century violence. In many cases, their task has been difficult, owing to the murky nature of the conflicts being examined. That said, it is hoped that the entries presented here will contribute to readers’ understanding of the period under discussion and the awful events of that time.
As editor of this volume, I would like to place on record just a few statements of thanks. Padraic (Pat) Carlin of ABC-CLIO suggested the project, and has at all times provided unstinting assistance with both good humor and forbearance. Many of my students at Florida Gulf Coast University showed interest as the project took shape, and I was fortunate in being offered the eager help of two in particular, Danielle Drew and Elizabeth Snyder. As always, Steven Leonard Jacobs from the University of Alabama and Michael Dickerman from Stockton University kept a watching brief on my physical and intellectual health throughout the process, and for their friendship I remain perpetually grateful.
Finally, as in all my projects, I cannot let the opportunity pass without conveying my ongoing thanks to my dear wife, Eve. She accompanied me on my first visit to Sarajevo in 2005, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the genocidal massacre at Srebrenica. Conquering her fears of entering what had so recently been a war zone, she not only braved Srebrenica, but together we survived the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London two days before we went to Bosnia. In many respects, this characterizes our relationship; for all that life can throw at us, and often despite the odds, we endure. May it be ever so.