Part 1/9:

A Complex History: The Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia

On February 28, 1994, Captain Robert G. Wright made history as he prepared to engage eight Bosnian Serb airplanes in a no-fly zone. This marked the first military engagement of NATO, an organization created to promote stability and peace among nations. Yet, the war in the former Yugoslavia was rooted in a complex history of ethnic strife that had culminated in one of the gravest humanitarian crises in Europe since World War II.

This article delves into the historical backdrop that led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia—a nation once heralded for its multi-ethnic federation. The story encapsulates elements like diverse cultures, tumultuous pasts, political manipulation, and the overarching quest for identity.