This video looks at the political instability that still exists in Bosnia Herzegovina 14 years after the end of a civil war that killed 100,000 people.
In Bosnia Herzegovina, the Eastern European nation once part of Yugoslavia, normal life as slowly returned to the streets of communities devastated by the etnic war that expelled Bosnian Muslims during the 1990s.
Families like the Garibovic's have returned to their homes and are trying to rebuild their lives as minorities in Bosnia.
Although many contend that the country has moved away from its past after the peace agreement to stop the bloodshed, others say that tensions among local officials and communities are still high.
Quotes
"People shouldn`t try to neglect reality. The way to deal with situation is to recognize situation. As long as someone has illusions or ideals that it can be changed, we will be nowhere." - Gordan Milosevic, adviser to the Serb entity`s prime minister
"If something changes in this country, starting from the authorities that obstruct everything good for the people of this country. They simply do not wish to help people have a better life." - Sabahudin Garibovic, Resident
Warm Up Questions
1. What is a civil war?
2. What causes civil war?
3. How are new countries formed?
4. Where in the world have ethnic and religious tensions erupted into war?
Discussion Questions
1. What did you learn from this video? Had you heard of the conflict before?
2. The civil war in what was formally called Yugoslavia killed 100,000 civilians. In what ways would that devastate a community? How can a community rebuild after that?
3. How does instability in nations such as Bosnia affect the United States?
4. Visit the Pulitzer Center's Global Gateway for more educator resources on fragile states here: http://www.pulitzercenter.org/globalgateway/
Additional Resources
