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BALKAN VITAL GRAPHICS
10
BACKGROUND
MINING
WATER
NATURE
11
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.
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)
AUSTRIA
H U N G A R Y
SLOVAKIA
U K R A I N E
R O M A N I A
SERBIA
B U L G A R I A
SLOVENIA
BOSNIA-
HERZEGOVINA
C R O A T I A
MONTENEGRO
ALBANIA
MACEDONIA
MOLDOVA
G R E E C E
T U R K E Y
I T A L Y
AUSTRIA
H U N G A R Y
SLOVAKIA
U K R A I N E
R O M A N I A
YUGOSLAVIA B U L G A R I A
SLOVENIA
BOSNIA-
HERZEGOVINA
C R O A T I A
ALBANIA
MACEDONIA
MOLDOVA
G R E E C E
T U R K E Y
I T A L Y
AUSTRIA
H U N G A R Y
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
S O V I E T U N I O N
R O M A N I A
Y U G O S L A V I A
B U L G A R I A
ALBANIA
G R E E C E
T U R K E Y
I T A L Y
AUSTRIA
H U N G A R Y
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
SOVIET UNION
R O M A N I A
Y U G O S L A V I A
B U L G A R I A
ALBANIA
G R E E C E
T U R K E Y
I T A L Y
POLAND
A U S T R I A - H U N G A R Y
R U S S I A
R O M A N I A
S E R B I A
B U L G A R I A
ALBANIA
G R E E C E
O T T O M A N
I T A L Y
MONTENEGRO
E M P I R E
A U S T R I A - H U N G A R Y
R U S S I A
R O M A N I A
S E R B I A
O T T O M A N E M P I R E
I T A L Y
MONTENEGRO
Wien
Budapest
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Beograd
Sofiya
Bucureşti
İstanbul
Wien
Budapest
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Beograd
Sofiya
Bucureşti
İstanbul
Wien
Budapest
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Beograd
Sofiya
Bucureşti
İstanbul
Wien
Budapest
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Beograd
Sofiya
Bucureşti
İstanbul
Wien
Budapest
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Beograd
Sofiya
Bucureşti
İstanbul
Wien
Budapest
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Beograd
Sofiya
Bucureşti
İstanbul
Occupied by
Austria-Hungary
2006
1995
Dayton Agreement
1945
After World War II
1923
Treaty of Lausanne
1913
After Balkan Wars
1878
Congress of Berlin
© Chappatte in “International Herald Tribune” –
www.globecartoon.com