Im not from Europe. Can someone explain what are the Balkans exactly and why there’s “beef” between them?
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The Balkans are basically the ancient crossroads of Europe. One of the most contested places on the planet. Because it’s the geographic intersection between Orthodox Christianity, Islam and Catholicism. It’s where they clash most frequently.
The beef is an ideological cycle of violence that is based on the grievances of the past that are constantly exploited by politicians and leaders.
Each has committed insanely barbaric atrocities on each other, and there is always a generation alive in the Balkans that has experienced it. So bitterness is easy to exploit there.
Recently in history, the last hundred years, the Croats slaughtered Serbs and Muslims like cattle, the Serbs did the same Muslims, and the Muslims did it to the others for hundreds of years before that.
Part of all their core cultures are a constant feeling of insecurity and distrust, although Croatia has broken their cycle by joining the EU. And a deep-seated sense of animosity based on sectarian atrocities.
If Serbia can be convinced to reform enough to join the EU then the door can be opened for Bosnia and I think the cycle can be broken permanently.
Economic development would really help people have different priorities if they were developing at a pace where people had a greater degree of prosperity and another route to stopping their politicians stirring too much shit, through the European legal institutions.
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