Balkanisation

For years now today's society has been questioning its own values. Twenty years ago when Yugoslavia began to fall apart due to numerous armed conflicts the whole world viewed the Balkans as a powder keg. While the West declared 'the end of history' the Balkans sank deeper and deeper into the darkness of old antagonisms and ethno-nationalist tensions. Alongside images of concentration camps destroyed cities and fleeing colonies the spectre of Balkanisation now reared its head. The collapse of Yugoslavia awakened many in the West from their dreams of a post-Cold War paradise and the Balkans became the negative and ugly symbol of betrayed expectations. In most cases the Balkans are not defined by the characteristics of personal identity but rather as a place of constant conflict.