The serbs - History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia

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Who are the Serbs? Often labeled as Europe's new Nazis, they also see themselves as victims of nationalist aggression and a hostile media. In this thought-provoking exploration, Timothy Judah, who reported on the Yugoslav wars for the London Times and the Economist, challenges these perceptions. He delves into the Serbian nation, tracing its history from medieval fortresses to the battlefields of Bosnia and Kosovo. Judah begins with a pivotal battle from over six centuries ago that still shapes Serbian identity. He discusses the concept of "Serbdom" that helped them endure centuries of Ottoman rule, their triumphs during World War I, and the genocide they faced in World War II. The narrative examines Tito's fragile ethnic balance and its collapse after his death, highlighting how Slobodan Milosevic exploited historical narratives to incite nationalist fervor. Judah provides harrowing eyewitness accounts of wartime atrocities, including ethnic cleansing and the siege of Sarajevo, while portraying the plight of Serb refugees. This comprehensive account does not serve as an apology but rather as a nuanced understanding of how a modern European state became one of the century's most vilified nations. By situating the Serbs within their historical context, Judah seeks to make them more comprehensible, moving beyond stereotypes of violence.