Ethnic cleavages and conflict. The sources of national cohesion and disintegration: The case of Yugoslavia

This dissertation addresses the problem of ethnic violence that has occurred in the former Yugoslavia and other regions of the world in the aftermath of the Cold War. The purpose of this study is to explain the relationship between ethnic violence and the different forces and concepts that play important roles in shaping the social, political, and administrative contexts within the boundaries of multi-ethnic nation-states and among the community of nation-states. The objective is to assist current policy makers with proposals and solutions that can lead to reconciliation, peaceful transformation, and coexistence of a community of ethnic groups, nations, and states.; To achieve this, the author develops a model for the study of ethnic conflicts around the world which allows scholars and policy makers to analyze each case using the same concepts, perspectives and principles. The model developed in this study uses the following groups of explanatory factors: (1) systemic, (2) domestic, (3) perceptual, and (4) international. The model can be used comparatively to identify and analyze conditions which are most likely to be related with ethnic violence and subsequent national disintegration.; Based on this model, the ethnic conflict and violence in Yugoslavia is explored and explained. The role of socialist self-management is explored regarding its contribution to ethnic violence and national disintegration. It is demonstrated how institutionalization of self-management led to the decentralization of Yugoslavia, which subsequently led to gradual development of extreme ethno-nationalism, and ultimately, in the period of transition to a multi-party democracy, to self-determination and secession of ethno-national groups, followed by ethnic violence and civil war. In addition there is considerable evidence that the violence and disintegration might have been less likely if the international community had had more consistent policies and principles on which a world order and recognition of new states could be established.; This study should increase an understanding of ethnic violence in Yugoslavia and the social, political, administrative and international institutions in which it has occurred. The focus is on lessons that can be derived from the conflict in Yugoslavia along with possible solutions that might prevent similar situations in other countries and initiate the process of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence in war-torn regions.