A well-written over view of Bosnian history from the Middle Ages through to the current situation. The book has an excellent introduction, with an overview of geography and how the people lived - kind of a sociological overview.
The section on the conflict in the 90s provided (for me) just the right amount of detail about key figures and key events. The book makes it very clear that the Serbs in Bosnia and their territorial ambitions really fuelled the whole conflict. Carmichael details how the majority of deaths and the majority of displaced people were Muslim. The majority of atrocities were also committed by the Serbs.
There is also some space devoted to the ridiculous and completely inadequate response of both the UN and the big international players throughout this whole conflict. Historical stereotypes and myths about the Balkans played a large role in their inaction which allowed the slaughter to go on for so long.
She also explores near the end of the book the dissonance this conflict created, especially for the younger, educated urban people, who socialized in mixed religious groups and who saw themselves primarily as Yugoslav. She also makes it clear how quickly the peaceful situation in villages and towns shifted, friendly neighbours suddenly on opposite sides, slitting each others throats, burning each others houses and raping each others families.
Carmichael and others are surprised at how current Bosnia still manages to function on a day to day basis when the brutal realities of the 90s still sit just beneath the surface.
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