Croatian Nationalism as a Reaction to Serbian Resistance in Dalmatia in the 1990s: Atrocity and Counter-Atrocity

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Abstract:

This article explores how Croatian nationalists responded to the instability in Dalmatia during the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Homeland War in Croatia from 1990 to 1996. Drawing on Max Bergholz's research, it argues that ethnic violence in Dalmatia during the early 1990s, driven by the turmoil following Yugoslavia’s dissolution, Croatia's independence, and the establishment of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK), led to a cycle of atrocities and reprisals. Both sides sought refuge within their own ethnic communities, contributing to this cycle. Such instances, in which mixed populations become radicalized, serve as a cautionary tale for international organizations seeking to prevent ethnic violence in the broader Balkan region.