The origins of Yugoslavia conflict

• Main Author: Gibs Dejvid N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Sociological Association, Belgrade 2001-01-01
• Series: Sociološki Pregled
• Subjects: Yugoslavia; dissolution of the state; economic crisis; wars; MMF; World Bank; humanitarian catastrophe; communism
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0085-6320/2001/0085-63200103177G.pdf

This article analyzes the cause of Yugoslavia's breakup, with special aim to debunk some myths on this subject, which have been propagated in the Western press. Chief objective is to assess Yugoslavia's relationship to the western powers and the international financial community prior to the breakup. Author made considerable effort to measure the responsibility of these parties for the disintegration of order in Yugoslavia and for the later dissolution of the state. The author concludes that the IMF's insistence on imposing austerity measures during the 1980s must be considered as one of the major reasons for the descent into ethnic violence and war. In addition the governments of the western powers, notably Germany bear additional responsibility for encouraging the secession of Croatia and Slovenia during the period 1990-91. Accordingly, the western powers must bear a large part of the blame for the wars of 1991-99 and the associated humanitarian disaster that resulted.