Partition1991 CE – 2008 CEEurope

Dissolution of Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia broke apart into seven successor states following the end of the Cold War, accompanied by brutal ethnic wars in Croatia (1991-95), Bosnia (1992-95), and Kosovo (1998-99).

Key Figures

Slobodan Milošević Franjo Tuđman Alija Izetbegović Josip Broz Tito Ratko Mladić

Preceding Causes

Death of Tito (1980) removed the unifying leader; economic crisis in the 1980s; the rise of nationalist leaders (especially Milošević in Serbia) exploiting ethnic grievances; and the end of Cold War pressures that had helped hold Yugoslavia together.

Empire1991 CE

Dissolution of the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union formally dissolved on December 25, 1991, creating 15 independent states and ending the Cold War and communist superpower competition.

Cause-Effect Graph

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