Forced Migration: The Bosnian Genocide
What is Forced Migration?
Forced Migration is “a general term that refers to the movements of refugees and internally displaced people (those displaced by conflicts within their country of origin) as well as people displaced by natural or environmental disasters, chemical or nuclear disasters, famine, or development projects.”
The Bosnian Genocide is a case of Conflict-Induced Displacement, occurs when people are forced to flee their homes as a result of armed conflict including civil war, generalized violence, and persecution on the grounds of nationality, race, religion, political opinion or social group.
The Bosnian Genocide is a case of Conflict-Induced Displacement, occurs when people are forced to flee their homes as a result of armed conflict including civil war, generalized violence, and persecution on the grounds of nationality, race, religion, political opinion or social group.
Background
Bosnia-Herzegovina is located on the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe, is a republic of the former Yugoslavia.
The population includes Catholic Bosnian Croats (17 percent); Eastern Orthodox Bosnian Serbs (31 percent); and Bosnian Muslims (44 percent), whose ancestors converted from Christianity centuries ago. Some historians have pointed out that the residents of Bosnia are ethnically much the same and have chosen to identify as Croats or Serbs primarily for religious and political reasons.
However, each of these ethnic groups wanted their own piece of land. This led to Bosnian Serbs waging war on Non-Serbs.
The population includes Catholic Bosnian Croats (17 percent); Eastern Orthodox Bosnian Serbs (31 percent); and Bosnian Muslims (44 percent), whose ancestors converted from Christianity centuries ago. Some historians have pointed out that the residents of Bosnia are ethnically much the same and have chosen to identify as Croats or Serbs primarily for religious and political reasons.
However, each of these ethnic groups wanted their own piece of land. This led to Bosnian Serbs waging war on Non-Serbs.
The Bosnian Genocide
This ethnic cleansing campaign by the Bosnian Serb Army targetted Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats. This campaign included all sorts of inhumane abuse, which led to the death of atleast 8,000 Bosnian men and boys. Further research suggests that, "200,000 people
were killed, 12,000 of them children, up to 50,000 women were raped, and 2.2
million were forced to flee their homes." Thus, it can be stated that the targetted people of Yugoslavia had next to no choice than to leave the country.
Bosnian Immigration
Most Bosnian immigrants have settled quickly into long-established ethnic enclaves. Bosnian Serbs tend to settle with other Serbs and Bosnian Croats in local Croatian communities. Some of these immigrants emigrated to the USA, where they face many new challenges; learning a new language, skills, and customs. A Bosnian American refugee described it as, "in some ways like being a blind man who wants to take care of himself but is powerless to do so."
Because their immigration was forced, they are likely to find it more overwhelming in comparison to immigrants who moved by free will.
Interestingly,Bosnian Americans often seek higher education and better employment opportunities than other immigrants. Also, since their names are so difficult to pronounce, they Americanize their names.
Because their immigration was forced, they are likely to find it more overwhelming in comparison to immigrants who moved by free will.
Interestingly,Bosnian Americans often seek higher education and better employment opportunities than other immigrants. Also, since their names are so difficult to pronounce, they Americanize their names.
Resolution
At the end of 1995 The Dayton Peace Agreement was signed and this was supposed to guarantee the return of around 500,000 displaced persons and around 370,000 refugees to their prewar place of living. However, due to obstruction, many displaced persons have not returned to their prewar place of living.