The Yugoslav Wars: The Greatest Conflicts Since World War II

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Known as Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, the Yugoslav Wars (also known as the Wars of Yugoslav Succession, the Yugoslav Civil War, or the War in the Balkans) were a series of wars fought in the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Though the entire conflict can be divided up into four distinct wars, they are related due to their common origin and the presence of the same ethnoreligious groups in the multiple wars. These wars have become notorious due to the atrocious war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all sides. To better understand the atrocities of these wars, one must have knowledge of the definitions of certain terms and war crimes. The ideas of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” are often thrown around related to the Yugoslav Wars, as are the terms “war criminals” and “crimes against humanity”. Ethnic cleansing can be described as an “organized campaign to forcibly transfer a population out of an area”. It may be planned and/or ordered by a government for a variety of reasons, and consists of threats, individual killings, group violence, arrests, torture, rape, and arson; all leading to spontaneous evacuations, forced migration, or deportation of the target group. Genocide is typically considered to be the most severe stage of ethnic cleansing, with the key factor in establishing genocide being intent. The intended complete destruction of a group is necessary for an event to be considered genocide. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines a crime against humanity as a serious offense which is committed as part of a widespread and/or systematic attack directed against any certain group of people, and can include (but is not limited to) murder, extermination, ensla... ... middle of paper ... ...g and wasn’t much more than an afterthought in the Nuremburg trials). ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte called the prosecution of Milošević “…arguably the most significant trial ever to be held of a political leader and Head of State. By the indictment he faces, the accused is alleged to be… the principal cause of much of the crime, tragedy, and misery occasioned by the three wars”. It is widely believed that Milošević would have spent the rest of his life behind bars. But even without such a history-making case meeting its full potential, it is safe to say that the ICTY is an impressive institution nonetheless and has ushered in a new era of international law and prosecution that is vital in today’s society. It has brought many war criminals to justice and with any luck, can bring a sense of justice to a war-ravaged region and help sow the seeds of peace.

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