Serbian Paramilitaries and the Breakup of Yugoslavia: State Connections and Patterns of Violence

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the emergence, nature, and function of Serbian paramilitary units during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. It investigates the nature and functions of paramilitary units throughout the 1990s, their ties to the state and President Slobodan Milošević, and the impact of their engagement on victims of paramilitary violence and the state and society. It argues that coordinated action by state institutions gave rise to paramilitaries tasked with altering borders while maintaining plausible deniability for the sponsoring regime. The book also analyzes differences between the units and how they attacked civilians, suggesting avenues for further research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking work is the first to provide a comprehensive examination of the formation, nature, and role of Serbian paramilitary units during the turbulent dissolution of Yugoslavia. Delving into the intricacies of these units throughout the 1990s, the book explores their connections to the state and President Slobodan Milošević. Drawing upon extensive archival materials from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, as well as judicial records from the region, the work sheds light on the emergence, functioning, and transformation of these paramilitary groups. It examines the underlying ideological, political, and social factors that fueled their engagement, as well as the devastating impact they had on the victims of paramilitary violence and the state and society they purportedly served.

The study argues that the rise of paramilitaries was facilitated by a coordinated effort by several state institutions, which tasked them with altering borders while maintaining plausible deniability for the sponsoring regime. This outsourcing of violence led to a significant weakening of the very state these units and their sponsors were supposed to protect. Furthermore, the book delves into the distinctions between these units and their approaches to attacking civilians, highlighting that the different forms of violence stemmed not only from their functions for the state but also from the specific setups and operations of these groups.

In the final chapter, the various strands of the argument are brought together, offering insights into potential avenues for further research and understanding of the complex dynamics of paramilitary violence during the dissolution of Yugoslavia. This seminal work contributes significantly to our knowledge of this critical period in recent history, shedding light on the dark chapters of human rights abuses and the challenges faced by societies in transition.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032044453