What Have We Learned from the War and Disintegration of Yugoslavia?

This panel confronts Europe’s violent dissolution of Yugoslavia, examining the scars left by nationalism, ethnic strife, and the war economy. In an era marked by the rise of right-wing politics and populism across a multicultural, multiethnic, and transnational Europe, we delve into the parallels and divergences between Yugoslavia’s past and today’s challenges. The discussion aims to chart a course for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, drawing on historical lessons to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. What steps can be taken to address and mitigate similar forces currently at play in Europe, particularly with the rise of right-wing politics and populism? Given the devastating impact of the war economy on Yugoslavia, how can today’s European nations redirect resources and policies towards peace-building and economic stability, avoiding the pitfalls of over-militarization? How can the principles of transnationalism, multicultural cooperation, and solidarity be strengthened in today’s European context to provide a counterbalance to the forces that led to Yugoslavia’s dissolution?
Chair: Igor Stipić (iASK, University of Regensburg, IOS Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Panelists:
Jody Jensen (iASK, Hungary)
Vedran Džihic (OiiP, Austria)
Klodiana Beshku (University of Tirana, Albania)
Ivana Stepanovic (iASK, Hungary)