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The Balkan Conflict and its Solutions

Abstract

In the 1990s, with the repeat of the military conflicts in the Balkans the region proved that it has rightfully obtained the title 'powder keg' of Europe. The collapse of former Yugoslavia and the consequent war caused great human and material losses and destabilized the region-arid entire Europe. This is why the transition of the Western Balkan countries was delayed and the region lagged at least a decade behind the first wave transition countries of Central and Eastern Europe. A 'black spot' emerged in the middle of an otherwise integrated Europe.

The author suggests that the differences in culture, economic and social development as well as demographic trends among the Western Balkan nations were the causes for the conflict. After analyzing each of them in great detail he proposes a wide range of general principles and specific measures that could mitigate these differences and bring back peace, stability and development to the region. The final goal is of course reintegration. This would mutually benefit the people in the region as well as the broader international community, which should remain engaged, but in a more appropriate way.

Chapter 13.

A view from within:how to create peace, stability and development in the western Balkans?

In their papers delivered during course in June 2007, the graduate students from the South-Eastern program at the MIREES Institute, University of Bologna, Italy proposed several interesting solutions for the Western Balkans. As young intellectuals concentrated on the problems in the region (and most of them came from the region) they were relevant with their views for understanding the future possibilities for the Western Balkans.

The major common conclusion of all graduate students was that the solutions for the region are related to the generational problem: only the younger generation could overcome a number of obstacles and confrontations from the past. Therefore, most efforts should be concentrated towards integration and cooperation between the young generations, in economy, political as well as social life. Maybe some ideas are naive or overly optimistic, but it is good to know that they exist.

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