Can Bosnia Survive? | Can Cyprus be solved? | Will Serbia invade Kosovo? | 200k Q&A Part II

[@JamesKerLindsay]

I had a few questions about Southeast Europe, which, as many of you know, is my academic area of study. I thought it might be nice to focus on the region.

[@lain1252]

Maybe I misunderstood you but I don't get how you think kicking Turkish Cypriots out of their homes (that used to belong to Greek Cypriots) will lead to long term peace. I don't know how the TRNC can even accept such a proposal

[@amotaba]

Yeah. Could you talk about the future of Hungary in relation with EU and Nato?

[@FlamingBasketballClub]

Can you please do a video on the 80th anniversary of United Nations? 🗣️📢

[@FlamingBasketballClub]

You meant to say the ongoing proxy war in Ukraine?

[@robert9016]

Balkanology :)

[@teoengchin]

Actually NATO Article 5 is deliberately vague on obligations. If Israel were to attack Turkey, a NATO member could just send a strong diplomatic reprimand to Israel and do absolutely nothing else

[@berkekadircelik6282]

yeah- Article 5 is useless unless you get attacked by a common enemy.

[@Paerigos]

@@berkekadircelik6282 well common enemy... That's why the tripwire forces in Baltics are from half of NATO. So most Armies are commited on day1 to not give politicians a choice. Equally if Poland starts fighting on the day 1 then there is very little to talk about. Without Poland there is no European NATO.

[@janetmontgomery-r6j]

​@@PaerigosI agree

[@d.l4326]

NATO serves only USA . Look in history what country (corporation) has broken how many agreements and treaties. That shows if you can trust 5 amendment.

[@GM-ub8qy]

Article 5 applies only to weak countries. To countries with nukes its just bluff

[@milostoprek]

Albanians in Kosovo can have independence, but Serbs in Bosnia can’t? You can’t have a serious conversation after that

[@bilic8094]

@@milostoprek Albanians is kosovo don't have independence they don't have a seat in the un and half the world doesn't recognize it plus a couple of eu countries it's just temporarily occupied.

[@h3ad_tv]

@@milostoprek Do you ever wonder why the Serbs in Bosnia aren't allowed to have independence?

[@og-c8l]

@@h3ad_tv Because we are a small nation surrounded by Nato and Americans see us as small Russians, so they punish us since they can't do it with Russia. Also double standards and gay western idology opposed to the Serbian way of living.

[@user-oj2ip3os3h]

Hey buddy they can’t declare independence because the Serbs ethnically cleansed the non Serbs out of those territories in the 90s and their entire government is based off Genocide. Albanians were allowed to declare independence from Serbia due to the Yugoslav government stripping them of all of their rights, banning them from schools, and getting rid of them in positions 9 years before the Kosovo war actually started and 18 years before they declared independence. Why would they not declare independence from these monsters?

[@user-oj2ip3os3h]

Because Republika Srpska is founded on the genocide and ethnic cleansing of innocent non serbs in those territories. Kosovo has a right to be independent because in 1990 the government stripped them of their human rights, banned them from schools, and removed them from positions in the work force/were denied jobs. This issue began in the 80s however really came into effect in 1990 and that's 9 years before the Kosovo war. They were given no option but to be independent.

[@HouseOfSick]

I really like this format. I like that you pause to really think about how to word your answers. It feels genuine and not scripted. It feels like a conversation. I do like your normal videos, but variety is nice. I wish your channel much success.

[@ВукВуксановић]

Half of Bosnia doesn't want to be in Bosnia, neither croats or Serbs want to be part of it, i doubt it will survive in it's current form for more than 10 years

[@NewYork-hi6zd]

@@ВукВуксановић WHO CARE 😆

[@Sol_Invictus543]

The west can force Bosnia and Hercegovina to remain as it is - a Frankenstain construction in coma. But it depopulates at a really fast pace. I would also claim that Republika Srpska is better governed then the federation despite all the blackmailing and sanctions put on top officials.

[@ВукВуксановић]

@@NewYork-hi6zd you're on a video about Bosnia i assume you care, or have nothing better to do in your life

[@01mart1978]

Neither Sandzak and RSK want to be part of Serbia and Croatia, but they have no choice, right?🤫🤫

[@ВукВуксановић]

@01mart1978 🤡 enjoy your 23%

[@JoBlakeLisbon]

Greetings from Sarajevo. It's a beautiful city. Wonderful people.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Indeed. A fascinating place. And amazing Cevapi! :-)

[@icuric4077]

@@execgrhvx Ma ja kad meni ne valja nek sve ide u pić.. materinu, Bosna je uvijek bila zemlja tolerancije sad odjednom svak tjera svoje sranje.

[@Nidzadrugar]

Dear professor, hope you'll get a lot more Muslims in your country, city, street - then you will understand how tolerant Serbs actually were.

[@goranvlnikolic]

It's very interesting how Prof. Ker-Lindsay reconciled Kosovo's right to independence with the idea of Republika Srpska's partition into 2 cantons. The Western-shaped narrative is so strong that even a scientist like Ker-Lindsay cannot see obvious parallels between rigths of Serbs and Albanians to freedom

[@marko-uno]

Serbia can't invade Kosovo since it is according to International Law , UN Charta, the Serbian constitution and the majority of the UN members, its southern province! What a hypocrisy to call Serbs in Bosnia secessionists but Albanians in Kosovo legitimate freedom fighters! 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸

[@bletrick3352]

HAHAHAHAHA keep coping

[@zoltanludvan5133]

Exactly. There are the good ones,whom we like, and there are the bad ones...The good old western neocon double standards

[@duskokukolj5571]

A šta očekivati od ljigavac iz EU.Dvostruki standard!Zamisli uspoređivati Vels,Irsku i Škotsku sa Kosovom!To samo mogu raditi ljudi koji nemaju pojma o srpskoj istoriji.Kosovo je bilo autonomna pokrajina u sastavu Srbije.Znači legitimni dio nezavisne i suverene države Srbije!Oni nemaju pojma koliko kulturne srpske ostavštine,koliko manastira i crkava ima na Kosovu!Oni nemaju pojma o srpskoj istoriji!Nisu svjesni da se Srbija nikad neće odreći Kosova!Ko god bio na vlasti!!!"KOSOVO JE ❤️ SRBIJE"!!!

[@anadolubenim3487]

Bosnian orthodox people are not Serbs nor Bosnian catholics are Croats. They're native Bosnian people. The Bosnia always has been Turkish land.

[@marko-uno]

@ 1. Yes they are, as it is written in the constitution of this country. 2. If you wanna discuss the historical context it must be said that Bosniaks didn't even exist before the turkish occupation. Bosniaks are muslimised Serbs who were forced to change their religion in order to live!

[@bill_moraitakis]

Thank you so much for answering my question! As a Greek, the Cypriot issue is very important to me and I really appreciate the answer you gave. Thank you for all the work you do on this channel, you truly make some of the best geopolitical analyses on KZbin and have helped me get interested in and fully understand this field.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks for the great question, Bill! And thanks for the lovely vote of confidence. I really appreciate it. :-)

[@singoller3749]

@@bill_moraitakis when will the Thrace and Macedonia problem be resolved with Bulgaria?

[@BilgeHan-01]

@@bill_moraitakis keep dreaming about a Reunion or tricking the Turks just like the Annan Plan with our good wishes to make real peace and Greeks done a last minute trickery. Now and forever Northern Cypriots don't need a Federal state with the mass murderer mentality of Eoka- Enosis nation. We are happy with our Sovereign State and Guarantor Türkiye.

[@australiaprisonisland9156]

Cyprus will work under Israel which is why Israeli's are buying up everything.

[@grSpyridon]

@@singoller3749 there is no such issue with Bulgaria. It’s all in your mind.

[@major-Mihailo-Madzarevic]

*" Will Serbia invade Kosovo " ? By international law and 1244 resolution, Kosovo and Metohija is part of Serbia. Nato invaded and occupied our ancient land - Kosovo and Metohija.*

[@AlexM-t6h]

Correct, and this was done without UN approval, meaning that a complete breakdown of international law and order took place. Not to mention the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, or the American-Russian Battle for the Pristina Airport - both events could have started WW 3. Furthermore, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) posed no threat to any NATO country.

[@adrianog4148]

your ancient land is in siberia..

[@major-Mihailo-Madzarevic]

@@adrianog4148 If you don't know what you are talking about, at least learn to start sentence with a capital letter......

[@adrianog4148]

@@major-Mihailo-Madzarevic you are slavs that came to balcans very late. albanians are the ancient people of this region. dont you learn that in belgrade?

[@predragdjokovic3419]

Correct. Serbia can not attack itself. It can only bring order to the temporary occupied territory.

[@Tukemuth]

Albanians in Kosovo wanted independance from Serbia. Serbia used force to protect its sovereignty. Serbia was condemned, demonized and ultimately bombed by the NATO. Crimeans wanted independance from Ukraine. Ukraine used force to protect its sovereignty. Ukraine was zealously supported by the NATO. What is the purpose of NATO? Why was Russia never invited to join NATO? Wouldn't that have prevented all possible wars with Russia? I should point out that NATO has expanded towards Russia while being openly hostile towards Russia. Would you do that if you wanted to prevent a war, or if you wanted to provoke a war? The very nature of NATO needs to be seriously questioned and I wouldn't dare call it a defensive alliance so lightly.

[@user-yc2br2ln2r]

Yes because Serbian paramilitare killed inocent people , raped thousands of young girls and woman , masacres Serbia did genocid in Kosovo and Nato bombarded Serbia , learn the right history, not Serbia version.

[@m.i.8390]

NATO is a military tool for USA and EU to impose their ways across the world.

[@bugshot4760]

@@user-yc2br2ln2r Both sides commited some kind of genocide, if we are being honest here.There are even stories that UCK( Liberation army of Kosovo) killed Albanians that lived in Kosovo, that didn't agree with them. The thing is, Albanians started conflict on Kosovo, and not without violence.Now, many people say that Kosovo was never part of Serbia- it was, but those same people forget that Ottomans ruled over Serbia for 5-6 centuries, then after World War I, Yugoslavia was formed (that was ruled by king) and after WWII it was Socialist Yugoslavia. Serbia officially became republic in 2006, and by that time, Kosovo was "separated" from it.

[@TimeByMySide]

If Serbia wants to be taken seriously, and this applies to anyone who wants to be taken seriously, then it should adopt a standard that it applies universally. There is no room for "if they, then we also.." or "if these, then why not those..?" Either you believe that universally there is no right for a group (ethnic, religious, etc.) within a country to form a new state and secede, or there is a right.

[@Tukemuth]

@@user-yc2br2ln2r Interesting claims. But the numbers tell us that the percentage of Albanians in Kosovo is higher than ever (over 90%), while the percentage of Serbs is lower than ever and continues to drop. This doesn't even suggest that a genocide was committed against the Albanians, but it does suggest the exact opposite.

[@morenodizdarevic8340]

As a Bosnian Muslim / Bosniak who has lived in Croatia and knows many Serbs, I always thought the best solution to Bosnia is a confederation of many cantons. I always push heavily for Bosnia to be the Switzerland of the Balkans. Switzerland is a multi-ethnic confederation with 26 cantons and 4 main national ethnicities making up the majority of the population along with a massive foreign-origin population. The country recognizes independent rights to language and culture for all 4 national groups and gives lots of power to the local canton level to reflect the history of each canton as independent kingdoms. It's not a perfect utopia, but it's a similar-sized multi-ethnic European country that is VERY stable and wealthy, especially compared to the Balkans. Bosnia & Hercegovina does not work as a country with 2 entities, 1 republic, 1 federation, 3 presidents, etc. Forcing Croats and Serbs into one centralized state will not work because Bosniak nationalists will limit their rights over Bosniak interests. Forcing Bosniaks and Croats into one Bosniak-majority entity while Serbs have their own does not work because it leads to Serb nationalists moving away from the other 2 and forces Croats into a limited minority position. Granting full independence to Croats and Serbs causes the country to fall apart into pieces (which some may support, but this will only lead to more wars and poverty for ALL ethnicities in the area). Reimagining Bosnia & Hercegovina into a canton system would work. Imagine a "Bosnian Confederation" where there are around 20 cantons, each one with a mixed population but with general majorities with some being Bosniak-majority, some Croat-majority, and some Serb-majority. This would only be possible by focusing HEAVILY on one main goal: building an advanced economy that directly raises the living standards of the working class. With a booming economy, people's nationalistic tendencies would decrease. Because a Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat, and Bosnian Serb would be more willing to put aside their desire for hypothetical independence in favor of having a massive paycheck and access to high-quality healthcare, education, etc. Today, when someone hears the term "Bosnian" , they're immediately associating it will a label of poor, backwards, dysfunctional, etc. But if we built a country where when someone hears "Bosnian", they think of an advanced, rich, stable country, Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs would gladly want to associate themselves with that label. Sounds crazy, but if Switzerland was as poor and dysfunctional as Bosnia, I seriously doubt the different Swiss ethnicities would be as willing to work together in more country. A poor Switzerland would collapse into ethnic conflict just as quickly as Bosnia did in the 90s. I always get people responding by laughing and saying "Bosnia as the Switzerland of the Balkans" is a joke because apparently Bosnia is a "lost cause with no future or hope". I 100% disagree with this. If you zoom out and look throughout the planet and history, countries change dramatically. Once powerful superpowers and empires that people thought would last a thousand years are now failed states. Countries that were random fishing villages with supposedly no future are now wealthy and stable. Bosnia is no different. Yes, it could end in instability and more conflict, but there IS a future where it can be something completely different than today. Even if it takes 100+ years. A better world IS possible, we just have to have to work on making that future possible with HOPE for the future, not anxiety.

[@83cosdino]

Dear Professor I would like to have your opinion on why the "West" tolerates the military occupations of West Bank by Israel and of North Cyprus by Turkey, whilst it has been swift in entering a proxy war against Russia for similar reason. Pethaps you can include in your Q&A sessions as it might generate interest.

[@DanielRivas-w8i]

@@83cosdino maybe because Jews have invaded America like it's so obvious plus Kosovo is Serbia conquered not stolen

[@adnanbosnian5051]

Because the Zionists want the people, mainly Muslims, to believe that USA and Russia, Saudi and Iran, are different and opposed to each other so that they would support Russia and Iran. Thats one of the reasons why they show so much gay stuff in the west so that Russia can appear "holy" and "good". Its all fake. Russian invasion in Ukraine is fak e.

[@brankoprosic5852]

Prof James Ker-Lindsay, I have a question for you - Will Republic of Ireland Invade Ulster?

[@arrore]

Congrats on the 200 milestone! Balkan regards.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much! :-)

[@TheSwedishHistorian]

I don't see Bosnia changing. I think it will just depopulate and be completely independent on the EU.

[@EdMcF1]

'dependent' or 'independent'?

[@M-SRB]

They are not going into EU at all.

[@australiaprisonisland9156]

Bosnia is doing just fine as it is. Whether you like it or not.

[@ognjengajic7706]

@@TheSwedishHistorian NATO and EU out, only way for surviving, we lived good till they come to give us democrasy, now is country without future

[@ognjengajic7706]

No we are not doing good dont lie ppl​@@australiaprisonisland9156

[@gorambo]

The double standard against the Serbs will never be excepted by the Serbs. Why is it ok to divide Yugoslavia but not Bosnia, or Croatia? Why are Serbs the only ones forced to live in countries were they are a minority? This is why the region is tense.

[@tzimisce1753]

All of you Serbs know very well that Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo fought for independence, they did not have it during Yugoslavia, while you are fighting for conquest. But you pretend as if there is a double standard, because you're trying to make your aggression sound fair, which it will never be.

[@yellowwasprakija2869]

@@tzimisce1753 all of you know damn well you rode Hitlers coattails

[@9and7]

@@yellowwasprakija2869 WTF does that have to do with anything today? You people are nuts.

[@9and7]

Apples and Oranges.

[@9and7]

@@tzimisce1753 Well said.

[@marcocolo7151]

Nice to have the preview for members

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks, Marco. I'm hoping to be able to do this more often. A few other changes are coming. I'll post a note to members soon explaining everything. :-)

[@akinozkan4496]

Regarding Cyprus I would love to hear on what your belief is based that the Turkish side would accept a loss of land. And the security topics of Turkey are not even mentioned.

[@littlechestnutorchard]

Because Mr professor is pro Greek and anti-Turk.

[@adamski-l5w]

I’m not sure if I missed earlier videos or not but I would hope to one day hear something about the background to why Cypress holds such a special place in James’s heart. Thank you for the video as always.

[@milostoprek]

That is his job. He is a professor of international affairs or something like that. He gets paid to study conflicts. He is an “expert”in Cyprus, Kosovo and Turkey-Greece relationship. Someone actually pays him a salary to study this and he still makes such stupid conclusions.

[@BOZ_11]

@@milostoprek haha, well said

[@nolaguy71]

He lives in Cyprus.

[@MasterMurga]

Bosnia always survived and always will survive no matter who attack on my homeland and household.

[@unlimitedcosmicspeed]

Surviving is one thing but thriving is another.

[@mudristefamon2338]

Bila pod turcima 600 godina.

[@MasterMurga]

@mudristefamon2338 still survived , even Egypt and Turkey were under Roman empire, so what

[@MasterMurga]

@@unlimitedcosmicspeed take it as you want, question is "can Bosnia survive"? So we Bosnians gave correct answer

[@mudristefamon2338]

@@MasterMurga Well, just like Turkey and Egypt, the structure of the population was completely changed, in Turkey there were Greeks, in Egypt Copts, and in Bosnia Serbs, and now there are some Muslims

[@genci203]

Good comment on the Kosovo and Serbia issues . Kudos

[@neandertalac]

I totally don't get how Serbia would invade its own territory.

[@bletrick3352]

Wipe your tears

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@neandertalac because it is under UN authority. Serbia accepted this and has no control there. Any attempt to send in troops would therefore violate UN SC resolutions.

[@NikolaCekic-vn3sz]

@@JamesKerLindsay Wait Republika Srspka isnt a country in Bosnia that ruled by Serbs? They even have their own arm and police

[@simbaskrobic4447]

​@JamesKerLindsay Serbia never accepted and won't

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Im not sure what you mean. Serbia has accepted that Kosovo is under UN administration for 25 years!

[@electricVGC]

Thank you for your answers, Mr Ker-Lindsay.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Always a pleasure! I hope all is well at your end.

[@LeoOrlando-yd2ut]

I visited a village in Bosnia about 30 minutes south of Mostar in 1989, a couple of years before the war. I didn’t even know tensions are once again rising. It’s not a good sign.

[@mnemonija]

Tensions are rising because it is not a functional state. The political sides do not think about how to cooperate but how to pull one on the others. Croats seem to want to have their own entity (and a veto on decisions like the srpska has), because they feel outvoted inside the federation where they are 1/4 of the votes. Bosniaks would want no one to have vetoes so they can decide on everything with 50% of the population/votes. I suppose srpska is satisfied with the current setup, but there is also a question of international guardianship status. They are not really a country, some unelected EU bureaucrat also has veto powers over everything in Bosnia. Is independence and freedom overvalued, or will they decide to split to all be free? Can they even split, geographically?

[@SnakeP1tPoetry]

In Bosnia the things are the same as if the war never ended, the only difference is that no one is shooting yet.

[@Giruga905]

Oh perhaps you went to Stolac? It’s a lovely place honestly but much like the rest of Bosnia riddled with tension, in the village in particular between the Croats and Bosnians living there. The tension imo never went away when the war ended but with all the other anxieties of the world at large looming over us it’s inevitable we will be a bit on edge and ready to perhaps get into conflicts again… I just hope it wouldn’t boil over past a certain point

[@predragdjokovic3419]

@@mnemonija If Bosnia cannot function then they have to say good bye and all to best to each other. That way but with western interference the Yugoslavia disolved.

[@sal78sal]

@@predragdjokovic3419 yes the old trick of make the country dysfunctional and then split it apart. We already have Serbia split apart form kosovo and is that a good solution?

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

I think the possible Reunification of Cyprus could help create a blueprint for the reunification of Korea, with a loose confederation of two states under a national government.

[@Viajesygeopolitica]

Congratulations about the 200K!

[@franobarbic6730]

Equating the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the region of Bosnia is like equating the UK with England, or the USA with Texas. These are the basics, but it is very important for foreigners (especially professors) to understand the difference between regions/provinces and states.

[@EkAvEkAs]

Profesor , Kosovo dont have 2 M people , majority of Kosovo population fleed country . i am sick of you westerners sticking nose into Balkans , we didn't have this ethnick tensions until birokrats from EU backed by USA started taking our recurses, our sportsmans and our workers .

[@michaelpapadopoulos6054]

I have been interested in the cyprus issue for a while and a "solution" that I have been thinking about is the following: The TRNC cedes some of its land similar to what was being discussed in the Annan plan and all the turkish soliders depart. Then the ROC without ever recognising the TRNC's existence de jure splits in half along the lines of actual control after the land transfer. The TRNC ceases to be and instead a new entity, inheriting the institutions and EU membership of the ROC takes its place. Then the two countries join the Shengen. Additionally you could have a binational organisation dedicated to providing even more integration to what the EU provides by default. Right now my understanding is that the fundamental friction between the greek and turkish sides to unification is that both sides want self determination, something that is fundamentally impossible with a single country. A two state solution, but not one where we just recongise the illegal invation and legitimise Turkey's puppet government seems to me like the only way for both sides to have what they want. Furthermore, since these two states would be well integrated, it could pave the way for amicable relations and further integration down the road rather than forcing it immediately after 50 years of separate rule. I understand that the ramblings of a random youtube commenter are unlikely to be good international policy proposals. I would like to be corrected if I have made a mistake in my assumptions or if this is a stupid idea for some other reason.

[@GababoBule]

Thanks you prof Lindsay's you teach me alot about politics in worlds etc👍

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@GababoBule Thank you! 🙂

[@barrydunne8096]

On my 8 week travels throughout September and October my trip took in 2 weeks in Bosnia. I'd been there before but this time I wanted to explore more places.. so as well as Sarajevo and mostar I visited Travnik and Trebinje. I always find the different places so fascinating, and the cities and towns separated with invisible religious borders. Beautiful country. Very warm people. 🇧🇦

[@JoaquínMémoli]

Thanks, professor! My belief is that Bosnians will have to make the decision on whether they want to divide or preserve the union under a more sensible structure. I think everyone in that country can agree that the current arrangement is untenable, but the people will have to decide whether they prefer reform or division. I would love to hear what Bosnians think.

[@ErvinTuzinovic]

Hi, the problem with refering to Bosnians is that we all have 2 identities. One isbthe national one, Bosnian and one is ethnic. There needs to be compromise. Bosniaks need to respect that the country wont be centralized as the Croats and Serbs need to understand the country needs reform because the system as is makes everyone poor because the cost to run the country is massive. A federation with 5 or 6 regions would be the most logical solution with one central Gov and 1 president.

[@JoaquínMémoli]

@@ErvinTuzinovic Yes, when I said Bosnians I meant the people of Bosnia at large, not just Bosniaks

[@M-SRB]

​@@ErvinTuzinovicwhy would anyone agree on that.Both serbs and croats want more power or dissolution.

[@ivancertic5197]

​​@@ErvinTuzinovicWhy it must be so? Why is there such a pressure to stay in same country? What happened with democratic principle of self determination? Why destiny woudn't be desideded on internationally organised and supported referendum? It worked for Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Scotland, South Sudan, East Timor etc.

[@ErvinTuzinovic]

@@M-SRB And Bosniaks who have majority in the country want centralization of power, meaning that both sides need to compromise

[@dreyadreya972]

I don't always agree with the professor on some assessments but I do appreciate the amount of workand effort he puts in these videos.

[@tommyschmierer4627]

Btw ... I really appreciate your channel 💯... 🫡 to you professor 💪🏽💯

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks so much, Tommy. I hope all is well at your end.

[@bulqizafotovideo8602]

Thank you very much for your videos everything is excellent

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much!

[@adamgg123]

Your proposal for BiH sounds alot like some of the early peace plans during the war

[@TheWedabest]

They were mostly same. Slight differences.

[@realcarrickryan]

I've always enjoyed your content James, but really enjoy this format. Reminds me of being able to quiz my favourite University Professors with niche questions. Also displays your knowledge a lot better when we know you're not reading from a script. Please do more of these.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@realcarrickryan Thanks. I love doing them for all those reasons. I will certainly try to do more! :-)

[@Niksg9424]

Love these Q&A videos, professor. Big fan

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks so much, Nik! I should do them more often. In fact, that’s my plan. I’m now going to be doing two videos a week. I’m going to write a note to members about it soon.

[@tommyschmierer4627]

Idk if Bosnia can continue to exist really ... However it would be nice if it could have a sorta federation or somethin' with Montenegro and Serbia as well ... At least some kinda economic union with the other Balkan states ... Including all the former Yugoslav states ... Even Bulgaria & Greece too ... Who knows tho ... People have long memories ...

[@Niksg9424]

@@tommyschmierer4627 coming off a bit desperate m8

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@tommyschmierer4627 Uhm, Bosnia doesn't work with 3 different people cobbled together, you think it will work if you cobble even more? Come on...

[@tommyschmierer4627]

@Kalimdor199Menegroth no you're right... Lol ... I was just thinking it would be nice ... Guess I'm daydreamin' ...lol

[@BarriosGroupie]

Thanks for the work you've put into your channel. I believe having political scientists, commentators etc on KZbin and social media, especially over the past few years, has played a huge part in dissipating dangerous paranoia.

[@np4653]

1. It will survive. 2. It won't be solved anytime soon 3. No it won't invade.

[@PancakeBoy07]

@@np4653 "to make the long story short"

[@zmajooov]

wishful thinking

[@libertas5005]

Bosnia survived the Crusades in 13th century, survived the Byzantines, survived the Ottomans, survived the Austro-Hungarian Empire, survived Yugoslavia, survived Serb aggression, I am pretty sure it will survive a couple of wannabe oligarchs sponsored by Putin in 2024. Coming from a Bosnian patriot who is willing to fight to defend his country. But you're welcome to speculate and try to dismantle our country on the Internet. However, if you try to do something, you'll get a Ukraine scenario in the heart of the Balkans, and just remember, like Serbs started World War 1 when tried to invade Bosnia in 1914, you'll get the same result in 2024 or whenever you try similar bullshit. They don't say history repeats itself for a reason.

[@zmajooov]

​@@libertas5005 idk man, for someone whose ancestors adopted the religion of their occupiers, licked every foreign boot that came to bosnia and who now cry genocide on their 23% of territory in bosnia, those are some very tall words. either that or a good example of that cringe bosnian humor. i'm not sure.

[@youknow6968]

I've certainly enjoyed your take on issues, it does provide out of the box perspectives, which is always good in my opinion.

[@mariocuric6690]

Im a Croat from Bosnia. Let me tell you 1 thing: We aren't connected (physically like roads and culturally like school events) and we feel that way.

[@Hans-Schulds]

You eather are not from Bosnia or you have absolutely no idea about road connections within Bosnia. Of course there are roads that connect now (nationally , religiously) very different and homogeneous parts of the country but , I would never make stop (unless totally necessary - if my car would brake down) , in Croat or Serbian parts of Bosnia. I don't trust them. 30 years ago they (first anf foremost Serbs but Croats also) tried to annihilate us , so ...

[@nix.amere3]

@@Hans-Schulds ahahahah mais comment peux tu dire ça alors que la première victime a été serbe, comment tu peux dire ça alors que les premières victimes de la région de Srebrenica ont été des serbes. Sérieusement il faut que tu grandisses et vite

[@repdebt]

i live in one of the most divided towns in bosnia and Herzegovina and I can go to the other (croat) side of my town easily without worry and without feeling like I don't belong I have many friends who are of different ethnicities to me and we don't see each other in any different light because of our backgrounds all these people who say we are still divided don't even try to change

[@libertas5005]

Bosnia survived the Crusades in 13th century, survived the Byzantines, survived the Ottomans, survived the Austro-Hungarian Empire, survived Yugoslavia, survived Serb aggression, I am pretty sure it will survive a couple of wannabe oligarchs sponsored by Putin in 2024. Coming from a Bosnian patriot who is willing to fight to defend his country. But you're welcome to speculate and try to dismantle our country on the Internet. However, if you try to do something, you'll get a Ukraine scenario in the heart of the Balkans, and just remember, like Serbs started World War 1 when tried to invade Bosnia in 1914, you'll get the same result in 2024 or whenever you try similar bullshit. They don't say history repeats itself for a reason.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Would love to do a one-on-one discussion of this with you in the near future!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Hi Michael, that would be great. I am just making a video on Kosovo. Perhaps we can follow that up with something. Are you on Bluesky yet? Drop me a line.

[@BosWeare]

Thank you, Professor James, for initiating this important discussion. ❤ Here, I would like to offer my independent perspective as a native Bosnian. I would argue that the survival of Bosnia within its current borders depends on several factors, the most crucial of which is the position of the European Union and, in particular, the United States as the architect of the Dayton Agreement. A new war can likely be ruled out as an improbable option that ultimately benefits no one, especially not the corrupt domestic elites. On the other hand, there are strong forces advocating for Bosnia's division-primarily among the Serbs, to a significant extent among the Croats, and increasingly among the Bosniaks as well. The remaining local forces that identify as Bosnians and Herzegovinians lack the capacity to preserve Bosnia within its existing borders without external support. Much will become clearer following the outcome of the war in Ukraine, as any potential partition of Ukraine may introduce new international principles and alignments. In any case, it has long been evident that Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its current system, is unsustainable, and, I would say, all other options remain open.

[@MrChuckya]

Thank you very much for your answer. I love your approach to international relations and am looking forward to your next video🙏

[@yellowwasprakija2869]

Long live the Serb Republic!!!!

[@Bosan5dzeros]

Welcome to Republic of Kosova! 🤣🤣🤣

[@aisam7892]

Bosnia will exist and was existing beafore .

[@streetbroom]

On the street, Cyprus seems pretty OK on either side of the Green Line. I reckon one of the biggest obstacles on the Turkish side of the issue, i.e., Turkey as the guarantor power, is the Turkish public perception of Cyprus. Cyprus (or the northern part) is perceived to be a natural part of Turkey because "martyrs shed their blood hence it belongs to us". This sentiment has been very much undermined and fruitfully exploited by politicians of all sides in Turkey since 1974. To alter that perception will be a huge challenge and most likely will end the political career of that future government that will sign the peace deal. And this is despite the fact that the Gurantee Agreement is publicly available on the website of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[@Putin1389]

The solution is to create three federal units that would satisfy the ethnic requirements. From each unit, one designated president is elected for the Tripartite Presidency and members of the Federal Parliament. They are elected on the principle of citizenship, not ethnicity.

[@bojanubijus]

so you recommend same solution that you criticize in bosnia strange.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@bojanubijusThis really is a case of apples and oranges. The situations are really rather different.

[@MladenZecevic-o3d]

@@JamesKerLindsay Sorry but i also disagree. The tension and ethnic issues between nations are same in Bosnia and Cyprus. The difference is that culture difference in Bosnia is very small and in Bosnia nations better function then their sitting politicians (at least publicly), like Paddy Ashdown (ex-High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina) have explained in his report to UK parliament. View from London on Balkan was always distorted.

[@dusancville]

In 100 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina we had and still have Otoman empire Austria Hungary Nazzi Croatia / Germany Eu ombudsman Foreign haegemony that just doesn't give up.

[@Todd.B]

Thx Prof. It's a little weird watching a video on a Wed. I did say, if I was wrong, I would admit it, I was wrong. I am baffled, it does defy every measure of common sense, and if common sense doesn't exist anymore, I'm a lost soul.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks, Todd. Indeed, it does. I think we are all trying to work out what happened.

[@Todd.B]

@@JamesKerLindsay He did say he had a secret he was so proud of he publicly admitted it, and told people he didn't need their vote, I wonder if there isn't something going on behind the scene. 🤷‍♂ I will say this, at the grocery store this morning, it felt more like a funeral. I'm not going to accept the result or deny the result but put a pin in it for now until officials come out and say something about the integrity of the election. You can delete this msg thread before posting the video publicly.

[@VKK__583]

What is this guy talking about? Kosovo has always been Serbia.

[@rockyalbania7116]

In what dream you in ??

[@kristianfrroku2448]

its not anymore

[@rudolfohisena5701]

Do some study, don’t talk nonsense. Remembering reading a poster in the college dormitory of some white pigeons, : those you love, set them free, if they come back, they are yours, if they don’t come back, they were never yours.

[@ANICETVS]

really where; in your dreams ?

[@user-irj1nxa3cof2z]

Except that you have a border in between 🤗

[@qaranyuusufcaliburmad8696]

I always watch your videos, Jameskerlindsay. You often focus on the current issues of the world. Congratulations to reach 200k. #From Somalia 🇸🇴

[@NikolaHD]

You became very good in being natural in front of the camera. I just love QA, but this Serbia retakes Kosovo by force got me cracking 😅 When can we expect another discussion with other people ?

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Haha! I just had to take that question. Thanks so much, Nikola. I do really love doing these Q&A videos. I hope to do them more often. By the way, I’m actually moving to two videos a week, I’ll put out a message to members soon explaining it all. But the plan is to do something a little different with the second videos. I’ll aim to put them up on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

[@M-SRB]

Well if the US gets it's share they can turn a blind eye.

[@Julia-Richter]

True. The first time I was really impressed by his performance (not "only" by the content) was when he made a spontanous video in some hotel room.

[@_daboi]

Thanks for answering my question! As a regular viewer, I’ve definitely seen a lot of blowback on some of your videos (namely the ones you made about Modhi and the Indian government), and that’s what prompted me to ask about that. Thanks again! :D

[@AHDONIxTOxSHELIONI]

The problem with a federated Cyprus is not the federation itself but its bizonal nature. The fear is that one of the partners breaks off and declares independence or worse is annexed by the ’motherland’ guarantor power. The British demarcated geographic regions in Cyprus (Nicosia, Larnaca, Kyrenia, Famagusta, Limassol, Paphos) during their rule. A federated Cyprus using the geographic regions as states would be less discriminatory towards its citizens (language/religion) with EU law guaranteeing freedoms and liberties of every citizen of a federated polyzonal Cyprus.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. In many ways that touches on my question on Bosnia. You are right. There might be a good argument to suggest that instead of pursuing a strict bizonal federation, a more diverse federation could be created, with two predominantly TC states and four predominantly GC ones. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that these can work better.

[@quartercast]

Hi Prof, congratulations on the victory of your preferred candidate in the US election!

[@tombuddy100]

Cyprus is the case where a minority that constituted less than 20% of population wanted everything fifty-fifty.

[@redfruit1968]

@@tombuddy100 And Bosnia is a case where 30% of the population was given half of the country, while 5% of the population wants to have the same amount of power as 65% of population.

[@tombuddy100]

@redfruit1968 Croats 15% according to Wikipedia

[@AriB97-ue6gt]

@@redfruit1968 Bosniaks are 50% of the population in BiH. If you speak only about the federation than 70% are Bosniaks. Anyway yes it’s extremely unfair how a nation which committed a genocide got half of the country. The same in Kosovo where they are 3-5% but have 10 out of 40 municipalities and want to have an association.

[@mikem8211]

12% Turkish 6% Muslim just to clarify

[@tombuddy100]

@@AriB97-ue6gt Kosovo seceded from Serbia.

[@NabeelaAllahditta]

Congrats Prof. James for 200k subscribers🎉

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@NabeelaAllahditta Thank you!

[@solsunman383]

Thank you for your excellent work, Professor Ker Lindsay. I may not always agree with your opinions, but I have always found your insights useful and reassuring (reassuring in the sense that even controversial issues can be approached in a calm manner). I can only presume that your students have some pretty healthy debates in your classes.

[@elturco2421]

Some amateurs do not understand the relationship between Turkiye and Israel. Everyone is fighting in the front yard, everyone is busy with their work in the back yard and they are making things bigger.

[@nocomment5705]

God bless Serbia.

[@australiaprisonisland9156]

Those blessings have gone missing.

[@adrianog4148]

the war criminals??!

[@AlexM-t6h]

Republika Srpska is not Serbia, it is a part of BiH, so your comment belongs somewhere else.

[@nocomment5705]

@@AlexM-t6h "No"

[@user-irj1nxa3cof2z]

Especially with your current government.. You’re more than blessed

[@parANOia1911]

What is your opinion on the recent debate that has started (kind of informally) that a bicomunal federation is not the correct way to solve the Cyprus problem? Is there something else? And if yes what?

[@UFOhunter4711]

You’re a good man Prof James, keep it up. There’s way too many hyped up geo-politics channels that spew out low quality drivel but you always deliver and even if I were to disagree I can see that you’ve actually thought about things and are not a mere parrot

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much. I really and truly appreciate it. I always hoped the channel could become a place to discuss international developments in a serious but civil way. Not always easy in this day and age.

[@barrydunne8096]

Really enjoying the channel

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much! I have just written a members' post for the community tab. It should be up tomorrow. There have been some changes recently, and I wanted to let you all know what has been happening. :-)

[@barrydunne8096]

Excellent. Sounds great.

[@Nikola-eg5tp]

Why does your every solution for Bosnia involve undermining the serbian position, how about more decentralization in favor of the entities?

[@bilic8094]

The most logical solution would be three entities with no right to secede that's basically how it's currently on the ground with the three constituent peoples all have rights and no group can dominate over the other but it's still one country.

[@Nikola-eg5tp]

@@bilic8094 I agree, that would also be a good option

[@ivancertic5197]

​​@@bilic8094Why it must be so? Why is there such a pressure to stay in same country? What happened with democratic principle of self determination? Why destiny woudn't be desideded for every municipality on internationally organised and supported referendum? It worked for Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, East Timor, South Sudan, Scotland etc.

[@goranmiljus2664]

Like Switzerland.

[@yolson2376]

@@bilic8094 That's not a viable solution in the long run I'm afraid especially if the country has aspirations to join the EU.

[@muratgurol446]

@ Cyprus issue: why 're'-unify in the first place? To put into perspective, would one talk of reuniting Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland?

[@sevenus82]

Bosnia is an unsolvable issue for the current population. Most people gave up. Educated and highly skilled left or will leave. Corrupt governments privatized their areas of interest and influence and there is no one who truly wants to do/risk anything or raise their voice for the more efficient, just and fare BiH. That ship has sailed. One they, when all these people die out, maybe someone else will settle here and make a country on this land. These people will not..

[@monsoonflower2007]

What about Belgium ? It is divided in 2. It would be healthy for Serbs to finally be able to decide for themselves what they want...as everyone else from ex Yugoslavia

[@mihajlozoric688]

Republika Srpska will be integrated into Serbia. Why the albanians have the right to succed from serbia and be "independent" and serbs in Bosnia can't? The people in RS do not wanna be in BiH they wanna be in Serbia I dont see what is the problem there

[@meeeee8745]

Because serbs committed genocide to both albanians and bosniaks. Drawing ethnic lines in Bosnia would be a total disaster. In Kosovo that is not the case.

[@mihajlozoric688]

@meeeee8745 no ethic clensing happend on kosovo that is a big line and rs could succed tomorrow if west allows it rs is a ethincly pure serbian state.

[@meeeee8745]

@@mihajlozoric688 yes, I guess the military and paramilitary units were just telling Albanians the way out of Kosovo and not killing kids, burning houses and displacing people. Read one book by someone who isn’t serbian, I dare you!

[@ognjengajic7706]

​​@@meeeee8745year of building the oldest.mosque in Kosovo plaše if you know hehe i dare you

[@predragdjokovic3419]

@@meeeee8745 nuts. Rhetoric nothing else. Ethnic lines in Bosnia are already drawn.

[@filiprogaczewski]

Thank you very much for this (and all the other) videos and best regards from Cyprus. I wonder how would you address the question of reparations for 2nd world war from Germany to Poland. It's a heavily debated topic in Poland and I wonder what's your - outside - perspective.

[@crazyone9850]

Bosnia will always survive over 1000 years now

[@janetmontgomery-r6j]

Yes. But. Being, Russian is a great precious thing But it. Doesn't. Mean every country. Round it has to be Russian. All empires of all nationalities historically and now have to UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT. SO NO EMPIRES ... NO HATE. NO GREED. NO CONTROL NO DESTRUCTION. NO

[@crazyone9850]

Bosnia is a Muslim country 53% so yes we will survive we fought for it and will fight forever for it.

[@catapetrovich6688]

Bosnia is complex because foreign powers have made it so from the 1990s Bosnia and Herzegovina has two original ethnicities -- Serbian and Croatian -- but the clincher here is that each ethnic group had converts to Islam, dating back to Ottoman times. That said, foreign immigrants from other Muslim states (Albania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, etc.) are currently buying real estate there and building Madrasas and expanding the concept of 'inclusion' under the new nomenclature of "Bosniak" or "Bosniaks". This term is now widely being introduced to apply to Serbian Muslims, Croatian Muslims and all other Muslims migrants. Therefore, new "ethnicities" are being constructed that never existed before...

[@paul-mw3rh]

simplify the administrative structure of Bosnia by splitting an existing unit into two, very effective and efficient and certainly without ulterior motives... the Serbian Republic will be split up while the Croats get their own autonomous unit, doesn't look like a good deal for the Serbs... do the people of Bosnia, in this case the Serbs, have anything to say about it? after all, there was a war and the Serbs fought for the Republika Srpska and certainly have no intention of giving it up... also interesting that in the case of Kosovo it is said that the Kosovo Albanians (understandably) have absolutely no interest in belonging to Serbia, but this principle seems to be completely irrelevant for the Serbs in Bosnia

[@MijZmij]

Excuse me professor... Just wanted to ask you one question... Do you think that Serbs from Bosnia, from republika Srpska have the right to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina?

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. No, I don’t. Watch out for my video next week. I will explain why.

[@MijZmij]

@JamesKerLindsay thanks for the answer, but in my opinion it's same like English people wanted to leave EU, and simply EU says No, you can't leave, you have no rights I will wait for next video...

[@joaquindiaz7818]

This is very easy to resolve ,divide in three zones , And let them choice to join croatia or serbia or stay in bosnia ,so they vote and decide ,its so simple as that,only they have to clarify the frontiers of the three zones peacefully and then let them vote ,join croatia or serbia or remain bosnia ,

[@lipa1356]

Hello Professor James, hello people hope you all are doing good. I just wanted to put my opinion about Bosnia out there. I was born and raised in Bosnia in 2001 (born into a predominantley muslim family but with a lot of relatives that are orthodox and catholic so we celebrated everything in my family, although im not very religious i still respect every religion eaquliy, thats how i was raised). About 6 years ago i was more or less forced to leave my country a lot of my family and all of my friends and move to Austria because of the poor economic situation and political instability (sadly). As i love history geography and politics i of course thought a lot about Bosnia and thought about everything my country went thorugh since even the ottomas came and conquerd us. So my opinion is that for Bosnia (and all of our neighbouring countrys, our sout slavic brothers) to make a leap forwards we need to openly discuss first of all what happend in the last war (which people was a big big mistake first of all, if you think otherwise you are delusional, Edvard Kardeljs proposal for a federative state with more autonomy for the states was a very good idea at least in my opinion). We have to come to agreements about what happend and in open discussions apologize to one another for what happend ban all those nationalistic fanatic ideas in every country and normalize our relationships. For Bosnia to function we need to solve the national question, let me explain what i mean by this. I myself (even tho born in a predominanlty muslim family) dont see myself as a bosniak but as a bosnian that means i love and respect every religion in my country eaqualiy every mosque and every church as well as every synangogue (Bosanska Krupa is a fascinating example of our religious diversitiy, on a small space you have a mosque and a catholic and orthodox church, all 10meters from one another, beatuiful sight). So i dont want my national identy to be strictly bound to a religion i want it to be bound to my country and my country is Bosnia and Herzegowina as a whole not just the muslim part. We always were a country with mixed religions and even had our own version of catholicism, bogumilisam/bosanski krstjani. The only difference between a "bosnian serb", "bosnian croat" or a "bosniak" is religion, which is abused by our politicians to divide us and stay in power, thats a fact. I agree with you Professor James, our governance system is broken and what the Dayton agreement left us was just a solution to end the blody war, we need a change in the governance and as you said it it cant be divided on ethnic lines bcs that just doesnt function. Thats why we need to slove the national question aswell, every orthodox catholic and muslim person has the eaqual right to be bosnian if he/she wants too. That way we would be unified to in our goal to make OUR country a better place. Also we (the ex yugoslav states) need to work more with each other normalize relations and even push for some agreements (trade agreements, work agreements etc.). So we can all go forwards. I know there is other people in fact most of the people who think like me maybe with some different ideas but all in all the same conclusions. People of Yugoslavia we are more similar than we are different. Our politicians use the instability and the horrors of the past war (which i repeat was a big mistake and nobody from the common people wanted that, at least no one normal) to divide us more and diverge our attention from the real problems in our countrys. I hope one day that we will solve all of that and live in prosperity and peace, beacuse we habe beatiful country with fascinating history and a lot of potential. I could rant about this a whole day but i think its enough. Note that this is just my opinion i dont want to insult or disrespect anyone. Much love to you all take care and i wish you all a nice day. Professor James, love your work, your videos are fantastic and im already excited for the next one.

[@Maleni229]

👍🇧🇦⚜️💪🇧🇦⚜️💪🇧🇦💙💛❤️✌️🥂

[@lipa1356]

@@Maleni229⚜️⚜️❤❤

[@janetmontgomery-r6j]

I so unders6nyour words and thoughts... Your hopes... Your approach. If only all could be like this... Seeking to respect and value each other regardless, and live together in Co.. Operation, realising we are all human with shared common needs and values, appreciating each other and history and good and learning from history not to repeat the mistakes, hates. Greed, destruction. We have to help each Other... As individuals.. . As countries to be the best version of of ourselves.... And it's for ourselves our children our friends.. Our planet

[@lipa1356]

@@janetmontgomery-r6j dont worry my friend as long as there are people like you and me (which most of us are) there is hope. We will prevail we just need to fight for our future are right are nations and give our offspring a good future to make our ancestors proud. Much love ✌️

[@Rade-h5l]

"Nato is defensive alliance" no it isn't they can claim they are but they have put military outside of NATO borders

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Listen to my answer again.

[@AlexM-t6h]

From the Western point of view, defensive as opposed to Russia. In reality, NATO is a global bully that has found its match.

[@SrdjanBasaric-w2s]

@@JamesKerLindsay The Serbs already have a suitcase full of British answers and agreements.

[@Someone-jz5pl]

​@@SrdjanBasaric-w2sserbia should have stopped killing innocent people inside and outside its borders then

[@yiannisevangelou6246]

We heard your response about whether NATO would intervene if Turkey attacked Israel. How would NATO react if Turkey attacked Greece, another NATO member (IF that were to happen)?

[@kname1882]

I don't get it why vould serbs voluntarily give up one state that they hold for something that will give them much less power, and where they can be overvelmed by bosnia muslims and croats?

[@M-SRB]

Exactly.Not gonna happen.

[@ivancertic5197]

Why would anyone do that - especially after being oppressed, exploited and genocided trough history, by those same neighbours, that now want you to let your guard down so you can all play nicely together.

[@sal78sal]

They don have to give up their state, they have to give up some power in order to have a more functional country. the other option is stagnation. third option is dissolution, but Bosniaks wont accept that.

[@noddy1973]

Lmao croats that also despise the bosniaks?

[@peaceforever8755]

If you dive to the bottom of a see and see two fishes fighting, take a close look around and you will see an Englishmen. - Ghandy

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@peaceforever8755 a tedious and silly comment.

[@peaceforever8755]

@@JamesKerLindsay So, you would not agree that people in Bosnia are suffering due to great power are playing "Divide et impera" geopolitical games? Take a look at the flag of Bosnia. Its so obviously symbolizes EU colony.

[@YourD3estinY]

@@peaceforever8755 You really think that the great powers care(d) about Bosnia? Bosnia and the whole SFRY became geopolitically irrelevant after the Cold War. The only reason why they intervened in Bosnia was because of the refugee crisis that was destabilizing parts of Western Europe and - if you want to grant them the benefit of the doubt - for humanitarian reasons.

[@aahavoc]

Bosnia is over 1000 yrs old and survived bigger empires compared to current petty nationals

[@TheSouth-j7f]

A thousand years ago Bosnia was a province of the Kingdom of Croatia ( 925 AD to 1102 AD).

[@ibmujic4764]

@@TheSouth-j7f and so what if it was,but it wasn't.

[@AlexM-t6h]

We are all very old in the Balkans, but the past is the past. Bosnia will not survive on its own. It's a dysfunctional country with 3 peoples, 3 religions, and 2 entities. The only reason it stays together is because the West wants it to. Sooner or later, the West will get tired of holding Bosnia's hands. It's a beautiful country and its people are wonderful, but the country is very dysfunctional.

[@TheSouth-j7f]

@@ibmujic4764 The Kingdom of Croatia was recognised by the Pope in Rome in 925 AD and Croatia's neighbour in 925 AD was Bulgaria the border was the Drina river.

[@ibmujic4764]

@TheSouth-j7f Go back another 500 years and it was all Rome,if you go that way.What's the point talking about what was 1000 years ago.

[@sertacturkogluk.k.t.c8332]

Recognition for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

[@fpsserbia6570]

Bosnia = mini Yugoslavia All have failed........ How many Yugo unions ( SLO, CRO, SRB ) have to fail in order people to understand that it doesn't work to have a union in this region i m not saying it is impossible, just not under these circumstances

[@temistogen]

That is good.Ethnic states

[@baklava6138]

They cannot be compared, Bosnia has legitimacy and a 1,000 year history. Yugoslavia was a project lasting a few decades. Also, Bosnia is governed by the Dayton peace deal which explicitly says secession is not possible. Secession was not possible during the hardest years of the war, and it certainly won't be possible today in peace. Plus, multiple court judgments on genocide and war crimes undermine the credibility of the entity RS, the said entity was created at the expense of other two main ethnic groups. Bosniaks, in particular, lost 4% of their total population, that would be equivalent to 350,000 serbs or 1.4 million Americans etc. The origin of the entity of RS is different from the origin of Yugoslav republics, the later all having historic credibility, something the entity RS does not.

[@DejanGrubesic]

@@baklava6138 Bosnia has no 1000 years history. Big lie.

[@TheSouth-j7f]

@@baklava6138 There were no muslims living in Bosnia before the Ottoman Turkish invasion in 1463 AD and there were also no Serbs living in Bosnia either before the Ottoman Turkish invasion.

[@Apistoleon]

​@@TheSouth-j7fIf one goes to origins, Bosnia or whole Balkans or whole world, were pagan, shamanic, or animistic etc. Christianity and Islam have arrived from ancient Canaan area, and Arabia and have nothing to do with Balkans. There were Catholic crusades were done on Orthodox Christians, other Cathar Christians, Protestant Christians, Muslims, pagans with huge massacres. Islam and Christianity are derived from Judaism. They are called Abrahamic religions. Catholics and Orthodox Christians created massacres on Balkan pagans, Baltic pagans and so many others!

[@BlackThunderET]

Prof. James, as someone who lives on these territories, Serbia cant and wont invade anyone now. Since its collapsing under own regime with protest's, tragedies and possible civil war. Bosnia however might be complex situation

[@VIZA94]

Hello, professor! I’d like to ask you something about Kosovo problem. What if Kosovo’s government decides to reintegrate under Serbia peacefully after final settlement? Kind regards :)

[@ivancertic5197]

They would have to accept back hundreds of thousand Serbs that they expelled from Kosovo, give them their property back and compensate for what they lost in previous 20 years. No, i don't think they would like that.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@VIZA94 Thanks. I just can’t see that happening.

[@milostomic8539]

Separation from Yugoslavia in 1992 is one of the main reasons why is Bosnia a failed and divided country for almost 30 years. As a former Yugoslav federal republic Bosnia had the right to proclaim independence only when and if all three constituent peoples agree. That didn't happen in 1992. Croats and Bosniaks were in favor of independence.Serbs were not. Then Croats and Bosniaks decided to overrule Serbs (which was and still is illegal). Serbs responded by proclaiming Republic of Srpska, because if Croats and Bosniaks can secede Bosnia from Yugoslavia without Serbs approval then Serbs can proclaim their territory within Bosnia without Croat and Bosniak approval.

[@jasmins203]

@@milostomic8539 having in mind that the Bosnian people suffered a genocide, Bosnia is doing very well. But you would probably say that the genocide in Srebrenica didn’t happen at all, exactly as your Russian sponsors. If you want an example of the failed state look at your Serbia being unable to get over Kosovo, hanging in some kind of limbo with the negotiations with EU stacked. Serbia is holding back not only itself but the entire region.

[@milostomic8539]

@jasmins203 What is wrong with that? EU is not among our priorities.

[@am_5384]

serbs can't create an entity in bosnia because they don't belong to that land, it's like saying that somalians in sweden can secede the areas in which they're a majority in

[@milostomic8539]

@@am_5384 Sure they can. If Croats and Bosniaks could secede Bosnia from Yugoslavia without Serb approval in 1992 then Serbs can form their own part of the country without Croat and Bosniak approval.

[@jasmins203]

@@milostomic8539 if EU is not your priority or choice why are you eating our EU money we are feeding you with? That is not fair.

[@Omidion]

Think there has been a misunderstanding with the person who asked the question about Serbia invading Kosovo. The talk is that Serbia is gathering it's military to ENTER Kosovo, which to an uninformed observer would be an invasion. But the problem is that "United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (adopted on June 10, 1999.)Anex 2, Paragraph 6. permits the Serbs to have a military/police personnel but with a caveat that it needs the "blessing" of NATO to do so...which it never gotten and in all reality will never get. So in essence the Serbs have a right to enter Kosovo and it's in black and white...but..."might makes right" so it won't be given that opportunity.

[@markgjidoda2745]

You do realize that Resolutions ,laws, and borders, do change. At one time United States of America was not a country, neither was Australia and many many more. Istanbul was Constantinople. Russia took 10% of Finland, Yugoslavia took Istria. After ww1, Albania was split amongst Greeks ,Serbs, Montenegro Geography is constantly changing. Forget about resolution 1244, that’s dead & forgotten.. It appears that Serbs are holding on to 1244 for dear life. Time to move on.

[@Omidion]

@@markgjidoda2745 I have no idea what are you talking about, are you trying to imply there were changes to the resolution 1244 or that there were new resolutions after? Also please do try to write in a more comprehensible manner.

[@user-ov5nd1fb7s]

I don't understand why it's necessary to have Bosnia, Cyprus or any of the other ones united. If they are made of different people groups which do not wish to live in the same country with the other side, let them split up. Forcing them to get together will only bring anger and resentment. And for what benefit?

[@markdowding5737]

the problem with Cyprus is that the North is the product of ethnic cleansing and artificial demographic change. By that logic what would stop a country from invading and occupying other parts of another's country territory, populating it with settlers, and then saying "Look, the people there don't want to be part of their mother State so we must allow them to leave and join my country because that's what they wish so!" What you support would trigger a wave of invasions and ethnic cleansing like never seen before.

[@RandomBosnianPatriot]

Easy go say when you don't live there

[@user-ov5nd1fb7s]

@@RandomBosnianPatriot A united country on paper or not, what does that have to do with if other ethnic groups like each other? Those are separate things. Whether you are in the same country or not, the muslims and christians of Bosnia still won't like each other. So what is your point?

[@RandomBosnianPatriot]

@user-ov5nd1fb7s true,christians and muslims don't like each other,but we will fight for homeland

[@mmajst0r]

benefit is that western powers want exacly that in Balkan - anger and resentment, since it is then much easier to control this area. If opposite their presence on the Balkan's would be totally unnecessary. It doesn't make any sence to break Yugoslavia because all the nations 'can't live together', and then to force the same in Bosnia. I would like the professor to comment this argument.

[@markykid8760]

I think the Israel v Turkey question would be interesting for how the new US president would respond. But I agree it’s unlikely that either side would go looking for trouble by making an attack

[@blagozadro7410]

Bosnia can survive if everyone can respect Dayton peace accord

[@RandomBosnianPatriot]

Yes,and we need to actually get good leaders,bcz with Dodik,Bosnia is dead.

[@alenlepirica7304]

Dear professor, my well-intentioned advice - read the book "BOSNIA: A short history", by Noel Malcolm PhD, Macmillan London, 1996. so many things will surely become clearer to you in its nearly 1000-year history. So you won't have to worry about its sustainability. She outlived many!

[@turkicpatriot1923]

The only and best solution to the Cyprus problem is a two-state solution. Because a federation could make things more complicated both in Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean. That is why the President of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, declared that he would not negotiate a federation with Southern Cyprus.

[@solsunman383]

On the whole, I think the international community would prefer the status quo, as opposed to a two state solution. In the same manner as they will never recognise Somaliland or Transnistria. That means that Turkish Cyprus will never really become a viable state. Just a dependency of Turkey, that will find itself in serious trouble, and without a sponsor if Turkey ever ends up in a long standing crisis.

[@Alpha-gk6hd]

you have a two state solution already 😂😂

[@turkicpatriot1923]

​​@@solsunman383 If there is no progress on the two-state solution, Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots will solve this issue on their own, I mean the annexation of Northern Cyprus to Türkiye through a referendum. Considering Türkiye's move away from the European Union and towards the BRICS, it would not be surprising to see Northern Cyprus unite with Türkiye.

[@turkicpatriot1923]

​@@Alpha-gk6hd Yes, but I'm talking about making this situation official.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@turkicpatriot1923 If that happens, then I guess you will not have a problem with Israel annexing the West Bank after doing what Turkey did in Northern Cyprus, expel the Greeks, make a referendum with an obvious result (a la Russian style) and annex the land.

[@mauriceoreilly9955]

Turkish Cypriots appear much more ready to travel south than Greek Cypriots are to go north. How can this 'imbalance' be addressed?

[@TheNatty88]

Could be because the North is currently being illegally occupied by Turkey and its army…

[@FilipPetrovic999]

I do not get it, why should we keep messed up decentralised federation, if we could divide it buy ethnic borders, just like with Kosovo? I mean we destroyed Yugoslavian Federation because of the same issues, but we keep much smaller, weaker, and undeveloped country that can only be place of national conflicts...

[@ivancertic5197]

@@FilipPetrovic999 Copy-pasting real discussion from here: -Serbs: "Can you guys please kindly keep your hands away from Republic Srpska." -Bosniaks: "No, we will not, this is a part of Bosnia, it has no right to secede, Serbs have to learn they don't decide what happens to Bosnia, or any of its parts." And that my friend is everything you need to know about problem of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[@sal78sal]

who is "we"? you dont get a vote in the matter.

[@ivancertic5197]

@@sal78sal Sorry, you shoud inform yourself - BiH, Croatia and Serbia are all equal parties that took part in shaping Bosnia and Herzegovina through Dayton agreement, and have saying if it's gonna be changed.

[@sal78sal]

@@ivancertic5197 They had their say and we have Dayton. There are mo more international conferences on Bosnia. All we have is Dayton and it can only be changed if people of Bosnia agree by consensus.

[@RandomBosnianPatriot]

Its easy to say when you aren't Bosniak

[@Isus666999]

The current format is written in the Dayton peace agreement. To change it it would mean aboloshing it. A unitary multiethnic state in the Balkans, there were two instances of that and it didn't turn out well. Republika Srpska is strongly supported by Serbia in it's idea of unifying with Serbia (look up the idea Serbian world, esentlally it says all serbs in one state)

[@AlexM-t6h]

Bosnia will survive only because the West wants it to survive. The Cyprus issue is not as complicated as Kosovo, yet it remains unsolved since 1974. Serbia will not invade Kosovo, as you say. Not at the moment. We waited 523 years to get it back from the Ottoman Turks. We will get it back again. Someday. It's our holy land. Let me ask you, how is it okay for Bosnia to stay whole, and for Serbia not to stay whole? In Bosnia, you have the Serbian-dominated Republika Srpska in which 95% are Serbs. In Kosovo, you have the 95% Albanians. And yet, Kosovo was allowed to separate from Serbia and Republika Srpska is not allowed to separate from Bosnia. Western double standards. But all in due time.

[@emiromeragic4187]

Kosovo is different in a sence it was Autonomus region of Yugoslavia, and it became part of Yugoslavia as it was given by Albanian komunists at the end of WW2. Root of all problems was caused when Albanian majority was oppersed by Serbian nationalistic government from Belgrade. And that kind of status quo narcistic approach may work if you are nucliar power with 3 milions of soldiers (Russia). For Serbia and any other nation that would not work. You cannot oppres 90% of population and expect good results. And after wars in 90's there is less then 0% chance to have Kosovo back as part of Serbia. Bosnia will survive as barely functional state and will not be changed an inch in next 30 years. There is no chance a single Serb from Bosnia will write off Republic of Srpska and agree to rearange internal organisation of Bosnia. That is needed to rearange internal Bosnian organisation to more economical 6+1 regions. And that will not happened. Not in my lifetime.

[@dzonikg]

@@emiromeragic4187 KOsovo was Autonomous region of SERBIA !!LIke VOjvodina.ANd no one opresed Albanians it was wise versa.I am not nationalists and hate our Serbian government but i dont like LIES ,i was in KOsovo every year in 80s and only oppression was against Serbs there

[@RicoBanani]

"Waited 523 years" thats a silly statement. You were unable for 523 yrs until the west came in and liberated Belgrade

[@dzonikg]

@@RicoBanani Lol ,Serbs liberated them self in first uprising in 1804 then in second in 1815 ,west was against Serbian indepdence and even Serbia free it self they refuse to recognize Serbia all way to 1878 when Russia pressure them to do it..and is 400 years ,not 523 but still way way 2 much ,i am sad for all generations off Serbian people who had to live under Otomans

[@RandomBosnianPatriot]

True,West won't allow serbia to expand

[@ioannisdimakis7460]

In former Yugoslavia west has consumed a lot of credibility. He initiated a war in Europe for the first time after ww2.At that time it was clear that target was Russian influence. The inevitable result was Ukraine.