Abstract A paper detailing the war that ravaged the Balkans in the early 1990?s, which uncovers the humanity of an extraordinarily patriotic population of that land and the incredible suffering endured by them.
From the paper:
"Often our lives are difficult and too busy for us to be able to digest all the information that comes our way every day. Consequently, more often than not, we tend to overlook information that, we feel, does not directly impact us. Even when we do pay attention, the information is presented so matter-of-factly that it frequently leaves us emotionless, unaffected, and therefore unmoved to act.
While Bosnian Muslims and Croats cried out for help, the world stood quietly by and did practically nothing to deal with the main cause of their suffering - the ravaging warfare."
Tags:balkans, bosnia, cleansing, croatia, ethnic, mostar, muslims, race, religion, sarajevo, violence, war, yugoslavia
Abstract This paper examines the troubling trend of historic imperialism that is endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. The paper looks at current ethnic strife and terrorist activity, exploring them within the context of this imperialism.
From the Paper "The Balkan Peninsula remains a hotbed of ethnic strife and terrorist activity. This is nothing new for the Balkans as centuries of imperialist aggression have rendered the region in a seemingly perpetual state of bloody disarray. Flanking the Adriatic Sea..."
Abstract This paper reviews "The Balkans: Nationalism, War and the Great Powers", by award winning BBC journalism Misha Glenny. The paper discusses Glenny's claim that the region's strife and problems are the result of 200 years of interference from the imperialistic great powers, rather than from ethnic hatred.
Tags:Balkans, Glenny, Nationalism, War, Ethnic, Imperialistic
Abstract The paper states that one only has to look at ethnic strife and historic imperialism in the past to understand recent terrorist activities in the Balkans. The paper discusses the point that the foundation created by such events launched a widespread societal desire to have political and religious freedom, which in turn sparked the willingness to perform terrorist activities for that purpose. The paper continues by discussing the subject and events that led to terrorist activity.
From the Paper "Recent terrorist events against United States interests throughout the world have caused Americans to take note and wonder what they ever did to deserve such hatred and anger. For the answer one only has to look at Islamic fundamentalist beliefs and groups to understand why the members of those groups believe it is appropriate and at times even God ordered to attack United States interests."
Abstract This paper explains that the events of 1914-1918 expressed a continuation of trends, some of long standing, others as recent as the Balkan Wars. The author points out that the war and the post-war settlements had enormous impact for the Balkan peoples.
Abstract This paper will cover the book "Balkan Ghosts" by Robert Kaplan and will discuss the topic of Balkan history that it reveals in this story. The story is a travel guide of sorts to understanding the complex nature of Balkan politics in the region and to see how racial hatred has been accumulating over the years in this region.
Abstract This paper looks at the nature and long duration of Ottoman rule in the Balkans. The writer reviews the deep and long lasting effects on the nations which today make up the Balkan Peninsula. The first part examines how during the first several centuries of Ottoman rule, its legacy was conducive to the maintenance of order, prosperity and ethnic and religious toleration. The second part explores how certain facets of Ottoman policy and practice, also contributed to the stunting of the area's political, economic and intellectual growth.
From the Paper "The term Balkans, which means in Turkish 'chain of wooded mountains,' refers to the southeastern peninsula of Europe, the largely mountainous lands which lie between the Adriatic Sea on the west, the plains of Central Europe to the north, the steppes of Russia/Ukraine to the east, the Black Sea and Asia Minor to the southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It contains the modern nations of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania and all of the nations which have emerged from the breakup in the 1990s of the former Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia."
Abstract This paper examines the part the Balkans had to play in the outbreak of World War I. It argues that whilst Russia, Serbia and Austria all viewed hostilities as local to the area, Germany deliberately exploited the situation to create European war.
From the Paper ?The racial struggle cannot be avoided ? perhaps it will not take place now, but it will probably take place in one or two years.? Kaiser Wilhelm II, 10 December, 1912 That the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand provided the spark for World War One there can be little doubt. However, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and many of his generals, cabinet and advisors, had been looking for an excuse to instigate European war, and more specifically the Schlieffen Plan, before Russia's military power grew to rival that of Germany?s."
Tags: archduke, austria, europe, germany, russia, schlieffen, serbia, war, wilhelm, wwi, world, war, i
Abstract Focuses on THE NEW YORK TIMES coverage of genocide in the Balkan regions & Slobodan Milosevic. TIMES articles on human rights violations, murders and the evenutal trials. Analysis of TIMES stories on capture & detention of Milosevic. Serbia and American aid. Coverage of the war crimes trials. Overall lack of interest of American public.
From the Paper "Milosevic, Human Rights and the New York Times
For some generations now, American diplomacy has attempted to focus on human rights. Now, there is a dearth of outstanding American diplomats and a public which has other interests on their mind. For example, while much of the European press spends column after column on the Balkans, and now the genocide trials in The Hague, as far as the American press is concerned, he current problems of human rights, in Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia and now at the International Court at the Hague, are limited to a few sound bites, and some human interest stories of horror, survivors, and the desire for revenge in that region. It is therefore up to the nation's leading newspapers, like the New York TIMES, to provide more details and consistent coverage for the few who are truly interested and involved. In following some stories..."
An examination of the history, development, conquests, contributions and decline of the Empire and its relevance to ethnic and territorial conflicts in late 20th century politics, economics, extreme nationalism and leadership.
5,400 words (approx. 21.6 pages), 22 sources, 2000, $ 135.95
Abstract This research paper examines the relevance of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans to contemporary current conflicts and tensions in that region. Because of the nature and long duration of Ottoman rule in the Balkans, the Ottoman Empire left deep and longlasting effects on the nations which today make up the Balkan peninsula
From the Paper "Ottoman Empire And Currebt Balkan Conflicts
This research paper examines the relevance of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans to contemporary current conflicts and tensions in that region. Because of the nature and long duration of Ottoman rule in the Balkans, the Ottoman Empire left deep and longlasting effects on the nations which today make up the Balkan peninsula. In some respects and especially during the first several centuries of Ottoman rule, its legacy was conducive to the maintenance of order, prosperity and ethnic and religious toleration. However, certain facets of Ottoman policy and practice, which intensified as its Empire declined and its hold over the Balkans weakened, also contributed to the stunting of the area's political, economic and intellectual growth, and the development and the exacerbation of deep-seated ethno-religious..."
Abstract This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of the Concert of Europe in dealing with the Eastern Question. Throughout the Eastern Question, which regards the fate of the Ottoman Empire, Concert diplomacy was used to solve the various crises that arose. The paper describes and analyzes three of these crises, the Syrian Crisis, the Crimean War, and the Balkan Wars.
From the Paper "With the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815, a system of diplomacy, known as the Concert of Europe, was established between the great powers of the time. This union held underlying norms and regulations that directed the Powers foreign policy for the decades that followed. Although initially developed to deal with European matters, the Concert was faced with dilemmas and crises concerning the interests of the great powers outside of Europe as well. This was particularly true with regards to the "Eastern Question" which was becoming more and more of a heightened issue as the nineteenth century progressed. As J.A.R. Marriott wrote: ?European statesmen have persistently sought to "isolate" the politics of the Near East. They have almost consistently failed? (1963: 10). The issues concerning the Ottoman Empire quickly became relevant international issues that stood before the Concert of Europe. The treatment of these issues by the great powers reflects both the strengths and the weaknesses of the European Concert system. The various crises concerning the fate of the Ottoman Empire will be analyzed in order to show the effectiveness of the Concert system to deal with the Eastern Question up to the Crimean War, and its gradual decline and weaknesses until it's disintegration in World War I."
Tags:balkan, concert, crimean, crisis, empire, europe, ottoman, straits, syrian, war
Abstract A look at how Communism penetrated the Bulgarian economy through its poorly developed economy (agriculture-oriented) during the Ottoman presence. The author analyzes how this weakened the economy even more after the war period, between the first Balkan War and the Second World War.
From the Paper "When asked about the present state of Bulgarian economy, Bulgarians talk about forty-five years of Communism as if they were forced upon the state from outside. Some people get so extreme that they equate them to the five centuries of Turkish yoke. The modest truth, however, is that outside influence came later. Before that, Bulgaria offered grounds for the development of the regime. Communism penetrated the country through its poorly developed economy (agriculture-oriented), which weakened even more after the war period between the first Balkan War and the Second World War."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of the American public's support military involvement during the Clinton/Gore administration. The author looks at several gallop poll surveys taken to gauge the American public's support for military involvement in areas around the globe. The polls taken include questions about Kosovo, the Balkans, Panama and the Middle East. The results of these surveys show that although there was wide public support to keep the military strong and prepared during this administration, when it came to actually sending troops into battle, the support was mixed. This, the author states, is keeping with American tradition of wanting to have strong military, but avoiding unnecessary involvement in conflicts abroad.
From the Paper "Thus when one asks the question of how high was the level of public support for U.S. military involvement during the Clinton/Gore administration, one must be content to allow for some measure of uncertainty in the answer. There is also, in this case, the fact that "U.S. military involvement" is not a homogeneous principle. Some wars are in general considered to be "good" wars. Most Americans think that their country did the right thing in World War II. The level of public support is much less, of course, for Vietnam. There are no doubt Americans who passionately believe that the United States has done the right thing by intervening in the Balkans but thinks that we should stay out of the Middle East, just as there are no doubt Americans who think that we should be much more activist in the Middle East but stay as far away as possible from the political, military and historical powder keg of the Balkans."
Abstract Even though these concepts seem very similar, this paper uses contemporary examples to show the difference between a nation and a nation-state. It discusses the history of Zionism, the "Nation of Islam" quest by African-Americans, and the ongoing wars in the Balkans. It also looks at different factors taken into account when defining these concepts - religion, history and culture.
From the Paper "Defining the difference between a nation and a nation-state can seem more like a bit of philosophical hair-splitting than a useful distinction for a political scientist to make in analyzing the present global situation. However, to better understand the assumptions that underline the terms of "nation" and "nation state" it is useful to unpack such concepts before passing judgement on what is a nation or a nation state in the real world of lived political existence."
Tags: nationalism, culture, religion, history, society, zionism, balkan
Historical background & current geopolitical & economic situation. Direct investment (FDI) in particular Balkan nations. Need for internal restructuring.
4,500 words (approx. 18 pages), 15 sources, 2001, $ 135.95
From the Paper "This research paper discusses the historical background and contemporary geopolitical and economic perspectives of foreign, primarily European, direct investment (FDI) in the Balkans and in particular Balkan nations.
The national economies which make up the Balkan Peninsula have not shared appreciably in the tremendous global expansion of FDI which has occurred in the last quarter of the 20th century. The ending of the Cold War and the apparent dampening down of the wars of the 1990s which accompanied the disintegration of the former Yugoslav Federation have ushered into power throughout most of the region governments which are receptive to FDI.
FDI and other forms of European foreign capital played a ..."
