Economic crisis, the end of the Cold War and ambitious nationalist leaders broke up Tito's Yugoslavia. Bosnia, the most mixed republic, was caught in the middle.
Yugoslavia was a communist federation of six republics, including Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Its leader, Josip Broz Tito, held it together with a strong party, a strong army and the slogan "brotherhood and unity".
After Tito died in 1980, the system weakened. Debt and inflation, which passed 1,000 per cent in 1989, created hardship and anger. Richer republics such as Slovenia and Croatia resented paying for poorer ones.
Politicians used nationalism to win power. From 1987 Slobodan Milosevic rose in Serbia by appealing to Serb grievances. In 1990 Franjo Tudjman's nationalist party won in Croatia. Free elections in 1990 brought nationalist parties to power in every republic.
The end of the Cold War removed outside pressure to stay united. The West no longer needed Yugoslavia as a buffer against the USSR.
Slovenia and Croatia declared independence in June 1991. Slovenia left after a brief war. In Croatia, Serb rebels backed by the Yugoslav army fought a bitter war.
- Tito dies
- 1980.
- Milosevic
- Rises in Serbia from 1987.
- Independence
- Slovenia and Croatia, June 1991.
Worked example: Using domestic politics as a cause
Why did Yugoslavia break up?
- Leadership: Tito's death removed the unifying figure.
- Economics: debt, inflation and quarrels over money.
- Politics: nationalist leaders won power.
- International: the end of the Cold War.
Watch out for this
Yugoslavia broke up because of ancient ethnic hatreds.
Communities had lived together for decades, with many mixed marriages. Economic crisis, and politicians who used nationalism to gain power, broke the country apart.
Check your understanding
How did Milosevic gain power in Serbia?
- By appealing to Serb nationalism and grievances
- By promising to break Serbia up
- Through a UN-run election