Yugoslavia was formed by six federated governments after the Allied victory in world war II. Yugoslavia existed in 1945 and officially ended in 1992 (47 years of existence).
That ex federated government of Yugoslavia are:
a) Slovenia (Majority ethnics Slovenes)
b) Croatia (Majority ethnics Croats)
c) Bosnia and Herzegovina (Majority Bosnian Muslim 51% while Serb and Croats form significant minority)
d) Serbia (including autonomous Kosovo and Vojvodina) (Majority Serbs ethnics)
e) Montenegro (Montenegrins ethnics majority)
f) Macedonia (Macedonians ethnics majority)
Above image were Yugoslavia map and border between members of Yugoslavia. (Credit Central Intelligence Agency)
Let us go through what was the main factor that caused the breakup of Yugoslavia.
The main factor is:
I) Ethnics and cultural differences
II) The death of Tito
III) Slobodan Milosevic extreme approach
IV) Yugoslavia war
I) Ethnics and cultural differences
Literally, Yugoslavia formed by 6 ethnic groups joining together to form one country. Most cases, these 6 ethnics can understand each other when they speak as they are a native from the Balkans region (south eastern Europe), although they always insisted that they are different.
Different of ethnic’s culture tend to bring into difference of religion and political view. Bosnia population mostly Muslim, while Croatia mostly Christian catholic and Serbia mostly Christian orthodox.
Throughout the formation of Yugoslavia, tons of ethnic tension broke out, but mostly it was just a local issue. Differences of ethnic, culture and religion contribute to stronger state sentiment among the six federated members that were in Yugoslavia.
II) The death of Tito
Josip Broz Tito, the first president of Yugoslavia. He is a Croats – Slovene ethnic who was born in the northern part of Croatia. He became the president on 14 January 1953 until 4 May 1980 (27 years in Office).
During his rule, he was able to settle localized ethnic tension from spreading to the national level. This is because he always promoted unity and brotherhood sense between the six federated members. He also kept Yugoslavia from hyperinflation and kept the economy stable.
After the death of Tito, the central government of Yugoslavia became unstable and confusing. 6 years before the death of Tito which is in 1974, the Yugoslavia government enacted a statute from 1974 law which stated that a “collective presidential” must be held to elect the next president after Tito.
“Collective presidential” is a system where eight elected presidents from each member will vote for Yugoslavia president. Those eight presidents comprise six federated members of Yugoslavia + 2 autonomous region of Serbia which is Kosovo and Vojvodina.
III) Slobodan Milosevic extreme approach
Slobodan Milosevic is a Serbian “ultra nationalist” leader. “Ultra nationalist” definition varies depending on some context. In the Yugoslavia issue, Slobodan Milosevic is seen as ultra nationalist as he wants Yugoslavia to be more centralized hence decreasing autonomy of other member states.
He then led a 1987 rally to abolish the autonomy region of Serbia which is Kosovo and Vojvodina. He said that Serbia should have a total control over those 2 territories. Those rallies 1987 rally managed to throw political figures in Kosovo and Vojvodina.
Slobodan Milosevic later abolished the autonomous status of Kosovo in 1989. The abolishment of Kosovo status caused ethnic tension to rise especially among ethnic Albanian. Distrust and anger happened and led to war and a chaotic scene in Kosovo. Slobodan Milosevic also led a rally against Montenegro and managed to install a puppet figure who was pro Milosevic.
Slobodan Milosevic managed to put Serbia (his own hometown), Montenegro, Kosovo and Vojvodina under his influence. This centralization movement seemed as a threat to the other member state of Yugoslavia. Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia heavily condemned those movements. They fear that “ultra-Serbian nationalist” sentiment could influence ethnic Serb that reside in their territories.
On June 25th 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia as they feared Serbia dominance in Yugoslavia could put them in danger politically, culturally and economically. The declaration of independence led to the next point which is “Yugoslavia war”.
IV) Yugoslavia war
Yugoslavia war is a war that happens after each member state declared independence from Yugoslavia. The Yugoslavia war could be divided into a few wars. The Yugoslavia army sent an army to back up their sides (ethnic Serb) in a few wars. Those war are:
a) Slovenia war
Ten days war or Slovenian War of Independence broke out between the Yugoslavia and Slovenia army. This war happened after the Slovenia government passed a referendum where 88 % of Slovenians voted to become an independent sovereign nation. The vote involved many Slovenians with more than 90% voter turnout.
The serious war between the central government, Slovenia, and Croatia forced the European community to make a “Brioni agreement” to relieve the crisis. The agreement was signed in Croatia, after the agreement was signed, conditions of Slovenia became better as the Yugoslavia army withdrew from Slovenia. Soon after, Slovenia leaves Yugoslavia and becomes independent. Slovenia could easily leave Yugoslavia because ethnic Serb only formed a small minority.
b) Croatia war
Unlike Slovenia, Yugoslavia cannot let Croatia go easily as more than 500,000 ethnic Serb live there, plus few ethnics Serbs who live near the border demand unification with Serbia territories.
After Croatia declared independence, war between Croatia army, ethnic Serb, and Yugoslavia army broke out. Croatia president cited that he would do anything to defend every inch of Croatia land. This escalated more tension between ethnic Croats and Serbs which led to lots of killings.
European community (EC) then assigned Lord Carrington as a peacekeeper to deal with the tension. After the talk, Serbia president Slobodan Milosevic then agreed to recognize Croatia independence subject to the human rights of ethnics Serbs in Croatia. After the Croatia victory against ethnic Serbs in Croatia, both Serbia and Croatia initiated to progressively cooperate with each other.
c) Bosnia war
Bosnia is a multi-ethnic place where each ethnic distributed almost evenly with Muslim Bosnian form 44%, Orthodox Serbs form 32.5%, and Catholic Croats form 17% of the population.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s declaration of independence, which passed 29 February 1992 caused political tension within the country. Ethnic Serb political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemned and boycotted those referendums. After those referendum was passed and recognized by international members, Radovan Karadzic led an ethnic Serb in Bosnia to start a war against their enemy which is Muslim Bosnian and ethnic Croats.
Slobodan Milosevic and the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) support ethnic Serb in those wars in which their main objective is to secure ethnic Serb area. Initially, ethnic Croats and Muslim Bosnian allied together to fight their common enemy which is ethnic Serb, but they cannot hold their differences any longer and their relationship start to tear apart.
This split caused Bosnia and Herzegovina to have a triangle war which deepened the conflict complexity. Ethnic Serb vs ethnic Croats vs ethnic Bosnian Muslim. These wars resulting a mass rape, ethnic cleansing and chaotic scene across the country.
NATO finally became involved in 1995 with Operation Deliberate Force targeting the ethnic Serb army, which then became the key in ending the war. General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Paris resulted in the end of bloody war in Bosnia. On 21 November 1995, the conflict concretely put into the end after peace negotiations were finalized.
Eortics 