EEGA Colloquium: Christian Costamagna – The 1999 NATO intervention against Yugoslavia

Within the framework of the EEGA colloquium EEGA fellow Christian Costamagna (Research Area 2) is going to present his research project “The 1999 NATO intervention against Yugoslavia: Global dimensions of a local conflict, its historical controversies, and the new archival sources.“ Affiliate researcher, Elisa Satjukow, moderates the event.

Abstract:

The Kosovo War (1998-1999) was a regional conflict with distinct global dimensions, involving the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. Yugoslavia, led by Slobodan Milošević, played a significant role in shaping the events, impacting the West’s relationship with Russia and China. The causes of the NATO intervention are still debated, with two main interpretative trends and disputes focusing on the intervention’s aim to prevent or stop an humanitarian crisis or the US’s hegemonistic interests in the Balkans. The US warned Belgrade of possible military retaliation if the situation in Kosovo deteriorated since 1992, but this aspect is underestimated in the general debate about the roots of the NATO intervention against Yugoslavia. Milošević believed it was politically convenient to challenge NATO and accept a NATO demonstration of force in Kosovo against Yugoslav forces, saving his reputation as a patriot in Serbian public opinion. Recent archive records from Yugoslav and US fonds allow us to rethink NATO involvement and the Yugoslav political decision to defy NATO.

Date: 23.10.2022, 2.00-3.30 pm (CET)

Venue: Online via ZOOM (please register here)

The meeting will take place online via ZOOM. Please register under the following link:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUofuquqjspG9Lp7PXgWMataJjbp22OKwvo. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information about your participation in the meeting.

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