The Balkans in the West political strategy from wars to democracy 1991 – 2010

Two great events have aroused the heart of Europe from the political lethargy of Cold War: the former, the fall of Berlin Wall and the Communist regime breakdown in 1989 and the latter, the outbreak of Balkan Powder Keg in 1991. 
New events have forced a redefinition of the Old continent geopolitical architecture, where it is challenged the power of western powers.
Testing ground was the ex Yugoslavia crisis. This region, recently defined Western Balkans, is a melting pot of peoples, belonging to variegated ethnic groups, cultures and religions, imbued with atavistic nationalism which has turned into hate and fratricidal wars.

The occurrence of war actions in Europe has impressed and made international public opinion indignant, affected by the sight of tanks and concentration camps, for the first time after the Second World War.
Today, looking back to the past, many people wonder: what really happened a step away from our house? Which interests the United States, the European countries and NATO  had from a backward area deprived of most elementary rights and a crossroads of criminal traffics? Which were the background and the secret negotiations in the rooms of diplomacy?
Cinzia Battista’s essay proves in minute details all this and sheds a light not only on the many shadows of the past, but also on the contemporary process of democratization which will lead to the entry of Balkans into the EU.
The destiny of peoples, so far away from our culture but so geographically close, will be ours as well, as soon as they will enter into the “common European house”. It is important to learn to know them, not to keep on ignoring them.