Balkan Vital Graphics

10

BALKAN VITAL GRAPHICS

BACKGROUND

MINING

WATER

NATURE

11

The west Balkans and the Black Sea region are characterized by numer- ous common risks and challenges, including fragile statehood, a shared history of violent conflict, unconsolidated democratization and economic underdevelopment. Given the crucial geopolitical position of both regions as (a) direct neighbours to the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and Russia, (b) a bridge to the Middle East and Central Asia, and (c) an increasingly important energy transport route, instability in either region can have significant ramifications for domestic, regional, and international security. (Ref: Berteismann Group for Policy Research)

R U S S I A

R U S S I A

Wien

Wien

Budapest

Budapest

A U S T R I A - H U N G A R Y

A U S T R I A - H U N G A R Y

Zagreb

Zagreb

Occupied by Austria-Hungary

R O M A N I A

R O M A N I A

Beograd

Beograd

Bucureşti

Bucureşti

Sarajevo

Sarajevo

S E R B I A

S E R B I A

B U L G A R I A

Sofiya

MONTENEGRO

MONTENEGRO

Sofiya

O T T O M A N E M P I R E

I T A L Y

I T A L Y

İstanbul

İstanbul

ALBANIA

O T T O M A N

1913 After Balkan Wars

1878 Congress of Berlin

G R E E C E

E M P I R E

POLAND

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

SOVIET UNION

S O V I E T U N I O N

Wien

Wien

AUSTRIA

AUSTRIA

Budapest

Budapest

H U N G A R Y

H U N G A R Y

R O M A N I A

Zagreb

Zagreb

R O M A N I A

Bucureşti

Bucureşti

Beograd

Beograd

Y U G O S L A V I A

Y U G O S L A V I A

Sarajevo

Sarajevo

B U L G A R I A

B U L G A R I A

Sofiya

Sofiya

I T A L Y

I T A L Y

İstanbul

İstanbul

ALBANIA

ALBANIA

People and identity The wars in former-Yugoslavia speeded up the proc- ess of ethnic homogenization underway in the west Balkans since modern states started to take form in the 19th century. In Croatia, for instance, the propor- tion of Serbs in the overall population has dropped from 12 per cent to just 4 per cent in 10 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina now consists of two political enti- ties, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska, and Distric Brcko hosting three main ethnic groups. The same is true of Kosovo, where the Serbs have lived in enclaves since 1999. A similar trend is at work in Macedonia, discreetly separating communities. It is even apparent in Skopje where segregation between Macedonian and Albanian neighbourhoods is growing.

T U R K E Y

T U R K E Y

1923 Treaty of Lausanne

1945 After World War II

G R E E C E

G R E E C E

U K R A I N E

U K R A I N E

SLOVAKIA

SLOVAKIA

Wien

Wien

AUSTRIA

AUSTRIA

Budapest

Budapest

MOLDOVA

MOLDOVA

H U N G A R Y

H U N G A R Y

SLOVENIA

SLOVENIA

R O M A N I A

R O M A N I A

Zagreb

Zagreb

C R O A T I A

C R O A T I A

Bucureşti

Bucureşti

BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA

BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA

Beograd

Beograd

SERBIA

Sarajevo

Sarajevo

B U L G A R I A

YUGOSLAVIA B U L G A R I A

MONTENEGRO

Sofiya

Sofiya

MACEDONIA

MACEDONIA

I T A L Y

I T A L Y

İstanbul

İstanbul

ALBANIA

ALBANIA

T U R K E Y

T U R K E Y

1995 Dayton Agreement

G R E E C E

G R E E C E

2006

© Chappatte in “International Herald Tribune” – www.globecartoon.com

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