Review by Choice Review
Despite its apparent focus on current events--the civil war in Bosnia--this massive study brilliantly dissects the disintegration of Yugoslavia as a reflection of the changed international environment in the post-Cold War era. With extensive firsthand experience in Yugoslavia, the author weaves a penetrating analysis of the internal and external developments that shaped the tragedy in Bosnia: the pre-civil war stability and harmony of a multicultural society; the collapse of Yugoslavia; the dynamics of self-determination and the political manipulation of nationalism; the critical role of economic factors and in particular the politics of transforming a socialist society to a market economy; the events leading to the civil war; the flawed Western and UN intervention; and, finally, the disintegrating international order that actually exacerbated internal tensions. With compelling and insightful analysis, this book presents a devastating indictment of the illusory notion of a post-Cold War "New World Order." In fact, the Bosnian conflict can be directly linked to a fundamental failure in the West to understand either the issues or the impact of its responses. This tragic failure, the author indicates, is not limited to Yugoslavia: similar potential crises elsewhere will not be resolved until the fundamental issues are better understood. Herein lies the great value of this exceptional book. All levels. P. Vannicelli University of Massachusetts at Boston
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
