Balkans minorities and their effect upon Balkan security

With the advent of a bloody war in ex-Yugoslavia which has by now claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, the Balkans has once again become a focus of interest. Many have concentrated on the study of religion, nationalisms and minorities, admittedly three sources of trouble in the peninsula. It is worth noting that almost all Balkan states have had significant minority populations since their establishment. The very existence of minorities coupled with irredantist and chauvinist features of Balkan nationalisms as well as claims of homogeneity have somewhat turned minorities into potential surrogates of their host-states in which they live. Mother-states, to which minorities look for support have been regarded by their host-states as dangerous neighbors. As a result, enormous amount of mistrust between Balkan states has come about, letting loose a considerable amount of combustible materiel throughout the Balkans. To this may be added the third source of trouble, that is the minorities. This work aims to analyze a somewhat peculiar relationship which has three dimensions, namely host-states, mother-states and minorities. It also aims to focus on relevant aspects of Balkan nationalisms. And it concludes that, in spite of a number of a triangular relationships involving these three actors, every case has to be treated on its own merit.