1. What happened in Bosnia and Kosovo?
In the 1990s, both Bosnia and Kosovo experienced significant ethnic conflicts as a result of the breakup of Yugoslavia.
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Bosnia: The Bosnian War (1992-1995) was marked by severe ethnic tensions among Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Croats, and Serbs. After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in March 1992, the Bosnian Serb forces, supported by the Yugoslav army, launched a campaign against the Bosniak population, leading to widespread atrocities, including ethnic cleansing and the genocide at Srebrenica in 1995. The conflict resulted in approximately 100,000 deaths and massive displacement. The war ended with the Dayton Agreement in December 1995, which established a complex political structure intended to share power among the ethnic groups.
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Kosovo: The Kosovo War (1998-1999) involved a conflict between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (then composed of Serbia and Montenegro) and the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo who sought independence. The war was marked by brutal Serbian repression against ethnic Albanians, leading to widespread atrocities and mass displacement. NATO intervened militarily in March 1999, conducting a bombing campaign against Serbian forces. After significant military pressure, Serbian forces withdrew from Kosovo, and the area was placed under UN administration. In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, which has since been recognized by many countries, but remains disputed by Serbia.
2. Explain what happened to Germany in 1990 and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
In 1990, Germany underwent a significant transformation:
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German Reunification: After decades of division following World War II, when the country was split into East Germany (German Democratic Republic) and West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany), the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 marked the beginning of the reunification process. The East German government collapsed, and on October 3, 1990, Germany was officially reunified. This event marked the end of the Cold War division in Europe and led to the integration of East Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany, with significant economic, social, and political adjustments.
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Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): Also in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States was formed. Established on December 8, 1991, by Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, the CIS served as a regional organization that aimed to facilitate cooperation in various fields, including political, economic, and military matters among the newly independent states that emerged from the Soviet Union. While some countries embraced CIS membership, others sought closer ties with the West or pursued their own independent trajectories, leading to varying degrees of cooperation and conflict within the organization.
3. List at least 3 countries that replaced their communist governments with democratic governments
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Poland: The Solidarity movement led by Lech Wałęsa was pivotal in transitioning Poland from a communist regime to a democratic government in 1989. This marked the beginning of a broader wave of democratic changes across Eastern Europe.
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Czechoslovakia: The Velvet Revolution in 1989 peacefully led to the end of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, resulting in the establishment of a parliamentary democracy. The country eventually split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, both adopting democratic governance.
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Hungary: Following a series of protests and political changes, Hungary transitioned from a communist regime to a multi-party democracy in 1989, culminating in free elections and the establishment of a democratic government.