Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts

Major

History

Date of Defense

4-24-2009

Graduate Advisor

Peter J. Acsay Ph.D.

Committee

Dr. John Gillingham III

Dr. Ellen Carnaghan (SLU)

Abstract

Although much attention and scholarship have been devoted to the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, very little work has been done on one of the key figures of that conflict, Alija Izetbegovi¿. No biography exists of Izetbegovi¿ in English, nor is there even a serious journal article which thoughtfully analyzes Izetbegovi¿¿s statesmanship during the war. There is a great need then for a work which intelligently analyzes Izetbegovi¿¿s actions during that turbulent time, something I have attempted to do in this thesis. I argue that Alija Izetbegovi¿ was a flawed political leader, who because of reasons of temperament and religious belief was unable to successfully confront the many challenges that were presented to him. Yet I also argue that Izetbegovi¿ must be judged in light of the remarkably difficult situation he was in, when his choices were often limited and when he faced circumstances which were often beyond his control.

OCLC Number

505869828

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