ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on topics discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book uses use 'Balkan' as a neutral toponym. It deals with geography and history combining to link regions one to another from the Aegean northwards to the lands inhabited by Slovenes and to historic Moldavia, and similarly from Macedonia outwards to the continental and maritime fringes. The wars recently fought in Croatia and Bosnia was 'Balkan wars' although the rest of the peninsula was at peace. Albanian, Serbian and Yugoslav presidents faced risings or fought elections that were 'a Balkan farce' or had 'a spectacular Balkan dimension'. There are, and have been, in all the Balkan countries, in spite of dictatorships and misfortunes, sound history schools and impeccable scholars who approach documents, oral history, artefacts and figures with a critical and open mind. With important exceptions, what Balkan history the book has is 'divided history'.
