Balkans-15-Why-Yugoslavia-Fell-The-Real-Forces-Behind-the-Bosnian-War (1) (Deutsch)

History rarely changes in a single moment. More often, it changes one decision at a time. Before we continue our journey into the Bosnian War, we need to pause for a moment. Over the past 14 chapters, we have traveled through more than 2,000 years of Balkan history. Empires have risen, empires have fallen. Borders have been redrawn time and time again. Yet one question remains. If the people of Yugoslavia had lived together for decades, why did they go to war? Many people believe it was simply a war between Muslims and Christians. The reality was far more complex. To understand the wars of the 1990s, we must first understand Yugoslavia itself. After the Second World War, Yugoslavia became one country made up of six republics, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia. Within Serbia were two autonomous provinces, Kosovo and Vojvodina. Together they formed one federation. But the people who lived there did not all share the same history. There were Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Slovenes, Montenegrins, Macedonians, and other communities besides. Most spoke closely related South Slavic languages. Many had lived beside one another for generations. But they followed different religious traditions. Most Serbs were Eastern Orthodox Christians. Most Croats were Roman Catholics. Most Bosniaks were Muslims. These religions became closely connected with people's national identities. That is important to understand. The wars were not fought because people argued over religion itself. They were fought because different national communities wanted different political futures after Yugoslavia began to break apart. Religion became a marker of identity. Nationality became the center of politics. For more than 35 years, one man had largely kept these differences in balance. Josip Broz Tito. After witnessing the horrors of the Second World War, Tito believed that nationalism had brought terrible suffering. His answer became known as brotherhood and unity. People could remain Serbian, Croatian, Bosniak, Slovene, Montenegrin, or Macedonian. But above all, they were encouraged to think of themselves as Yugoslav. Nationalist politics were discouraged. The federation was carefully balanced. For decades, millions of people lived peacefully together. Neighbors shared meals. Children attended the same schools. People worked in the same factories. Mixed marriages became common. Many families contained more than one national identity. Then, in 1980, Tito died. Suddenly, there was no longer one respected leader able to hold the federation together. Instead, Yugoslavia was governed by a rotating collective presidency. At the same time, the economy entered serious decline. Inflation soared. Foreign debt increased. Unemployment grew. Living standards fell. People became anxious about the future. When economies struggle, politics often changes. Across Yugoslavia, some politicians increasingly appealed to nationalism. But what exactly is nationalism? Nationalism is the belief that a person's own nation or people should come first. It can inspire people to protect their culture, language, and identity. But when different national groups begin competing for power, territory, or influence, nationalism can also deepen division. Gradually, fewer people described themselves simply as Yugoslav. Instead, they increasingly said, I am Serbian. I am Croatian. I am Bosniak. I am Slovene. Political identity became national rather than federal. History also returned. The memories of the Second World War had never completely disappeared. Many Serbs feared persecution if Yugoslavia broke apart. Many Croats feared renewed domination from Belgrade. Many Bosniaks feared becoming trapped between larger national ambitions, political speeches, television, newspapers, rumors. Fear spread more quickly than trust. Then came independence. In 1991, Slovenia declared independence. The fighting there lasted only about 10 days because Slovenia had relatively few