The creation and politics of international protectorates in the Balkans: bridges over troubled waters

One of the most prominent consequences of the post-Cold War violent disintegration of former Yugoslavia was the creation of what are commonly known today as the international protectorates in Bosnia-Herzegovina & Kosovo. This article discusses the international & local contexts & factors that produced the international protectorates in the post-Cold War Balkans, as well as the role & politics of the protectorates in the process of reestablishing & building self-sustained stability in the region. Its main conclusion is that the role of the international protectorates in Bosnia-Herzegovina & Kosovo has basically been to facilitate the process of transition from the zero-sum nationalistic conflicts of the 1990s to the common goal of joining the European Union by ensuring the peace. Whether they can continue serving as a credible bridge to a peaceful, democratic & prosperous future in the Balkans without currently having either a clear road map or a local consensus on the very next steps remains both a formidable challenge & a big question mark. 38 References. Adapted from the source document.