Unjustified Bosnian Genocide, Argumentative Essay
Roonam Dasa
Mr. Cook
CHY 4U1
14 January 2013 Bosnian Genocide Essay
“History repeats itself” is a phrase commonly heard and used by many people. After World War I, The League of Nations was formed as an international organization to preserve world peace. However, after World War II it became evident that the League was ineffective in its prevention, so it was replaced by The United Nations in 1945. The purpose was to become a collective international organization of countries to prevent events such as war and genocide from occurring, after witnessing the horrific atrocities of WWII. However, even after the formation of the UN, several other wars and genocides had occurred between 1945 to today, and in particular there was a brutal genocide in Bosnia. Bosnia lies next to the Adriatic Sea, paralleling the “boot” of Italy. Bosnia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1878 to World War One. After the War, the geographical area became Yugoslavia. By 1980 the population of Bosnia consisted of 2 million Bosnian Serbs and Croats (Catholic Christians) and over 1m Bosnians (Sunni Muslim), all claiming Bosnia as their homeland.1 After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, tensions were rising in Bosnia and Herzegovina; between two ethnic groups, the Bosnians (Muslims) and the Serbs. It was clear a war was on the rise, but the UN’s repeated failure on multiple issues allowed what could have been a preventable war and genocide to happen. Firstly, the UN tried to limit their involvement in the war by sending only a limited number of troops for humanitarian purposes. Furthermore, they attempted to set up safe zones, which failed miserably because their forces were too widespread and the areas were open and exposed, easily allowing them to be taken over. Additionally, the Dutch soldiers that were guarding the safe areas were ill equipped and exhausted due to lack
Mr. Cook
CHY 4U1
14 January 2013 Bosnian Genocide Essay
“History repeats itself” is a phrase commonly heard and used by many people. After World War I, The League of Nations was formed as an international organization to preserve world peace. However, after World War II it became evident that the League was ineffective in its prevention, so it was replaced by The United Nations in 1945. The purpose was to become a collective international organization of countries to prevent events such as war and genocide from occurring, after witnessing the horrific atrocities of WWII. However, even after the formation of the UN, several other wars and genocides had occurred between 1945 to today, and in particular there was a brutal genocide in Bosnia. Bosnia lies next to the Adriatic Sea, paralleling the “boot” of Italy. Bosnia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1878 to World War One. After the War, the geographical area became Yugoslavia. By 1980 the population of Bosnia consisted of 2 million Bosnian Serbs and Croats (Catholic Christians) and over 1m Bosnians (Sunni Muslim), all claiming Bosnia as their homeland.1 After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, tensions were rising in Bosnia and Herzegovina; between two ethnic groups, the Bosnians (Muslims) and the Serbs. It was clear a war was on the rise, but the UN’s repeated failure on multiple issues allowed what could have been a preventable war and genocide to happen. Firstly, the UN tried to limit their involvement in the war by sending only a limited number of troops for humanitarian purposes. Furthermore, they attempted to set up safe zones, which failed miserably because their forces were too widespread and the areas were open and exposed, easily allowing them to be taken over. Additionally, the Dutch soldiers that were guarding the safe areas were ill equipped and exhausted due to lack