Lexington Books Politics of Ethnic Cleansing: Nation-state Building and Provision of Insecurity in Twentieth-Century Balkans

Product Description This book sheds light on the causes and consequences of ethnic cleansing in the twentieth century Balkans with particular reference to the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. In providing a thorough and consistent analysis of large-scale episodes of ethnic cleansing in modern Balkan history,Politics of Ethnic Cleansing fills an important gap in existing conflict and peace studies literature. Offering a top-down interpretation of the expulsion of ethno-national minorities as a means of state-building, the analysis rests on a fresh, multidimensional approach, which provides an eclectic discussion of nationalism, politics, and security. This book establishes an agenda for policy-making and future research by making specific proposalsfor clearing up the present ambiguities in international humanitarian law related to ethnic cleansing, rethinking humanitarian intervention with a view to restoring the long-term viability of the target states, and repudiating the argument for forced homogenization as a conflict resolution strategy. Review A major book--learned but never pedantic. The author provides a thought-provoking, humane and incisive guide to one of the terrible practices of modern politics. She has a rare, imaginative grasp of an unimaginably harsh period of history--our own.--Christopher Coker, Professor of International Relations, Director of IDEAS, London School of Economics Despite its scholarly analysis, The Politics of Ethnic Cleansing is written in an easily accessible style and should appeal to anyone with an interest in the Balkans or conflict studies in general. This book is well researched and well written throughout, and fills an important gap in literature. This ambitious book deserves to be widely read.--International Affairs About the Author Klejda Mulaj is Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.