Post-WWII NATIONALISM & Ethnic CONFLICT [AP Euro Review—Unit 9 Topic 5]

Summary

After World War II, Europe saw a surge in nationalist uprisings and separatist movements, many fueled by ethnic tensions. The Chechen nationalist movement in Russia led to deadly conflicts after Chechnya declared independence in 1991. Similarly, the Irish conflict known as 'The Troubles' arose due to divisions between Catholic and Protestant communities. The Basque and Flemish separatist movements also challenged post-war stability. In Bosnia Herzegovina, ethnic cleansing was carried out by Serbs against Bosnian Muslims, leading to widespread genocide and NATO intervention. These movements and events shattered the post-war peace across Europe.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nationalist uprisings occurred across Europe after World War II, challenging the peace that followed.
• 😀 Nationalism is the desire for self-determination among people who share a common language and cultural history.
• 😀 The Chechen nationalist movement in Russia began in the 1990s after the Soviet Union fell, leading to deadly conflicts and ultimately a Russian victory in 2017.
• 😀 Ireland was divided after World War I, with Catholics in the South seeking independence and Protestants in the North wanting to remain loyal to Britain, causing decades of violence known as 'The Troubles'.
• 😀 The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 largely ended violence in Northern Ireland by granting more sovereignty to the region.
• 😀 The Basque separatist movement in Spain was driven by anti-Spanish sentiment, with the ETA (a violent group) fighting for independence, but it ultimately ended in 2018 without gaining independence.
• 😀 The Flemish separatist movement in Belgium arose due to cultural and economic tensions between the Flemish North and the Walloon South, but Belgium remains unified.
• 😀 Ethnic cleansing, a tragic attempt to systematically eliminate unwanted ethnic groups, occurred in Bosnia Herzegovina during the 1990s.
• 😀 Yugoslavia, whose borders were arbitrarily drawn after World War I, saw growing nationalism among its ethnic groups after the death of Tito, leading to violent secessionist movements.
• 😀 Slobodan Milošević, president of Serbia, ordered ethnic cleansing in Bosnia Herzegovina in the early 1990s, leading to the death of nearly 300,000 people.
• 😀 NATO intervention in 1995 helped end the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia Herzegovina, but the damage caused by the genocide was catastrophic.

Q & A

What is nationalism, and how does it relate to separatist movements in Europe after World War II?

Nationalism is a feeling of solidarity among people who share the same language, culture, and history, often leading them to desire an independent state. After WWII, many nationalist movements arose in Europe, as different ethnic groups sought self-determination and independence from larger states, such as in Chechnya, Ireland, and the Basque region.

What was the outcome of the Chechen nationalist movement after the Soviet Union's collapse?

After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Chechnya declared independence. However, Russia reasserted control in 1994, leading to deadly conflicts that lasted until 2017, with over 100,000 Chechens killed. Chechnya is now part of the Russian Federation.

What caused the violence in Northern Ireland during 'The Troubles'?

The violence, known as 'The Troubles,' was caused by the tensions between the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland, who wanted independence, and the Protestant majority, who were loyal to Britain. The civil rights movement in the North led to British military intervention, exacerbating anti-British sentiments and triggering decades of violence.

What role did the British military play in Northern Ireland's conflict?

The British military was sent to Northern Ireland to quell the Catholic civil rights movement, but their actions, including executing resistance leaders, intensified resentment, especially among the Catholic population. This contributed to a prolonged conflict, which lasted until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

What is the Good Friday Agreement, and how did it affect Northern Ireland?

The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, was a peace accord that granted more sovereignty to Northern Ireland, helping to end the violence of 'The Troubles.' It facilitated political power-sharing between Catholics and Protestants, reducing tensions and laying the foundation for a more peaceful future.

What is the ETA, and what role did it play in the Basque separatist movement?

The ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) was a violent separatist group that fought for Basque independence from Spain. Founded in 1959, the ETA engaged in bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings. Despite their efforts, they did not achieve independence and officially disbanded in 2018.

How did the Flemish separatist movement in Belgium differ from the Basque separatist movement?

While both movements sought independence, the Flemish separatist movement in Belgium was driven by cultural and economic differences between the Flemish-speaking North and the French-speaking Walloon South. Unlike the Basques, the Flemish movement was largely non-violent and focused on autonomy or annexation by the Netherlands.

What is ethnic cleansing, and how was it carried out in Bosnia-Herzegovina?

Ethnic cleansing is the systematic expulsion or killing of members of an unwanted ethnic group. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Serbian forces under Slobodan Milošević carried out ethnic cleansing against Bosnian Muslims, resulting in mass murders, concentration camps, and the displacement of thousands.

What was the international response to the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia-Herzegovina?

The international community, particularly NATO, intervened in 1995 after nearly 300,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed in the ethnic cleansing. NATO's intervention helped bring an end to the violence and led to the establishment of a peace agreement.

How did the collapse of Yugoslavia contribute to ethnic conflicts in the Balkans?

The collapse of Yugoslavia, after the death of Tito in 1980, led to rising nationalism among its ethnic groups, each seeking their own nation. Bosnia-Herzegovina declared independence in 1992, sparking violent conflicts between Serbs, Croats, and Bosnian Muslims, which escalated into ethnic cleansing and genocide.