ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a former Yugoslavia's importance as a possible prototype of future ethnic wars, its history in terms of American and European efforts to manage its conflicts, and the lessons it offers in regard to crisis prevention. It explores the historical roots of Yugoslavia's explosive ethnic conflict and examines how, and in what ways, America and the West reacted to escalating tensions in the region. The chapter suggests some implications of the record for future United States (US) national security decision making. It focuses on Yugoslavia's legacy of the past, role of political elites in spawning national tensions, US, United Nations and West European security decision-making and security lessons learned about Yugoslavia's break-up. The legacy of ethnic national tensions in "Yugoslavia"—a term which means the land of the South Slavs—is best captured by key historical milestones. The histories of Yugoslavia's nationalities were remarkably distinct, despite a common South Slav origin.
