The Bosnian War

In 1992-1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina were at war with each other, sparked by the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991.  The early 1990’s were years of conflicts and terrorism for most previous Soviet Satellite States, as easily shown by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both nations were attempting to gain greater territory, which soon became a much more complex affair, as hatred became more polarizing, as removal of certain ethnic groups became more common, despite enjoying a plurality in these regions. There were two major factions involved in this war, the Republika Srpska, who were Serbians, and the Herzeg-Bosnia, who were Croats. Regardless, during this war, a particular insurgent group, the Army of the Republika Srpska, massacred over 8,000 Bosnian men and boys in 1995, in Srebrenica. The Repbulika Srpska also forced over 25,000 Bosnians out of the areas they controlled, as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign. (Accounting for Genocide: How Many Were Killed in Srebrenica)

With this crucial back ground information it becomes much easier to classify the kinds of political violence that were committed. According to David Samuels, political violence is “the use of force by states or non-state actors to achieve political goals.” (Comparative Politics) The case of the Bosnian War agrees with this. Certainly, the deaths of thousands to achieve political goals did happen. Determining what particular kind of political violence was committed is a little more difficult. There was a deep, extensive hatred of ethnic groups for each other; the Serbians hated the Croats and the Croats hated the Serbians. Terrorism, as defined by David Samuels as” threatened or actual use of violence for political purposes by non-state actors, directed particularly against civil targets,” was present, in a way. The Republika Srpska certainly harmed civilians, en masse, targeting in particular, Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica.  The murder of the Bosnian Muslims was terroristic, except that it was supported, and encouraged by the current government in the area, run by the Republica Srpska. Samuel’s definition of terrorism is slightly too narrow. Terrorism, at its heart, is the use of violence and fear to subdue, or coerce, individuals for a political purpose. The entity that used terrorism, in this case, was the current government.

 This new definition of terrorism transitions into the definition of genocide, “the deliberate and coordinated effort to eliminate all members of a particular ethnic, religious, or national group through mass murder.” (Comparative Politics) The Republika Srpska, without a doubt, did facilitate, and engage in the mass murder of another group, the Bosnian Muslims. The Bosnian Muslims were considered both their own ethnic, and their own religious group, and enjoyed a plurality in the disputed areas. Genocide, then, was used as a method of terrorism. The Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica were killed as examples for the other Bosnian Muslims in the country. The fear of being put to death allowed for the Republika Srpska to more easily force the Bosnian Muslims out of the country, as part of ethnic cleansing.

In conclusion, the atrocities committed in the Bosnian War are defined as a modified terrorism, and genocide. Terrorism was committed in the Bosnian War, and it was committed by the group that was currently in charge of the government. They threatened use of violence, and actually used violence.  Genocide was committed beyond a shadow of a doubt, with the Republika Srpska massacring Bosnian Muslims. They then use this genocide as a form of terrorism, coercing Bosnian Muslims into feeling the country.

Works Cited

Brunborg, Helge, Torkild Hovde Lyngstad, and Henrik Urdal. "Accounting for Genocide: How Many Were Killed in Srebrenica?" European Journal of Population / Revue Européenne de Démographie 19.3 (2003): 229-48. Print.

Samuels, David J. "Chapter 10: Political Violence." Comparative Politics. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, 2013. 257-84. Print.