Postwar Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, and Atrocities

Nationalism in Postwar Europe

• Nationalist uprisings based on shared language and culture.
• Aim: Separate state.

Chechnya

• Chechen nationalist movement: Southern Russia.
• Anti-Russian sentiment.
• 1991: Declared independence after USSR fall.
• Russia reasserts authority, leading to deadly conflicts.
• Over 100,000 Chechens killed.
• 2017: Russian victory; Chechnya part of Russian Federation.

Ireland

• Post-WWI split: Protestant North (loyal to Britain), Catholic South (independent).
• "The Troubles": Catholic/Protestant minorities' rights.
• Civil rights movement among Catholics in Northern Ireland.
• British troops sent, leaders executed.
• 1972: Northern Ireland under direct British rule until 1998.
• Good Friday Agreement: More sovereignty to Northern Ireland, violence decreases.

Basque Separatist Movement

• Eastern border of Spain.
• Ethnically homogenous group with anti-Spanish sentiment.
• ETA: Violent wing, bombings, assassinations, kidnappings.
• Disbanded in 2018.

Flanders Separatist Movement

• Belgium: Flemish (North), Walloons (South).
• Flemish seek separation or annexation by Netherlands.
• Tensions persist.

Ethnic Cleansing in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Yugoslavia's borders disregarded ethnic groups.
• Tito's rule maintained order until 1980.
• After Tito, ethnic groups sought own nations.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence.
• Slobodan Milosevic (Serbia) aimed to consolidate republics.
• Serbian troops carried out ethnic cleansing against Bosnian Muslims.
• Property destroyed, concentration camps established.
• NATO intervened in 1995; almost 300,000 Bosnians killed.