European Powder Keg: Balkan Wars of the 20th Century: Balkan Wars of the 20th Century

Author: A.T. Zadonin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book is part of the "20th Century Military Secrets" series, published by the Russian Vecher publisher in 2000. It was written by A.T. Zadonin, the Director of the Department of Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Doctor of Political Science, and a Professor, along with Nizovskiy, a writer and historian. Politicians refer to the Balkan region as the "powder keg" not by chance. The Balkans are a place where various dangerous and bloody conflicts intertwine because it is the intersection of transcontinental connections, where Islam, Christianity, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholicism converge. This book begins with the birth of the Balkan Peninsula's countries and provides a detailed introduction to the long-standing conflicts and tensions among the peoples and nations of the region over thousands of years. It comprehensively recounts and deeply analyzes the events and historical causes of several Balkan wars in the 20th century, presenting the authors' views and recommendations. The authors believe that one reason the Balkan issue has long remained unresolved is that the origins of the Balkan peoples themselves contain a conflictual nature, and the formation stage of the nation-state has not yet ended. Another reason is closely related to the involvement of external forces in Balkan affairs (accurately speaking, political interference), as these forces do not wish the Balkan states to become international actors on par with them. In the authors' view, the future destiny of the Balkans depends on the characteristics of the process that combines the past, present, and future of the Balkan peoples, as well as on the trends of world development. It may either be incorporated into the European socio-cultural space as a special region or remain a geopolitical transit hub—a buffer zone between European civilization and the Near Eastern civilization, a stage for various geopolitical interests and value conflicts. The authors suggest that one must adopt a tolerant attitude toward other cultures and develop the habit of resolving conflicts without violence, as this is the prerequisite for establishing a new world order. The Balkans should not become a testing ground for high-precision lethal weapons.