Bosnia and Herzegovnia
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AT A GLANCE
Continent: Europe
Geographic Coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E
Borders: Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Adriatic Sea
Population: 3,871,643 (July 2014 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000)
WHY PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with a long history that, for most of the 20th century, was part of the nation of Yugoslavia. When Bosnia declared its independence in 1992, Bosnian Serbs—supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro— responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines.
The ensuing conflict, accompanied by massive human rights abuses, forced over half of Bosnia’s population of 4.4 million from their homes. An estimated 1.3 million people were internally displaced, approximately 500,000 fled to neighboring countries, and some 700,000 became refugees in Western Europe. The first Bosnian refugees were resettled in Vermont in 1993.
BOSNIANS IN VERMONT
Middlebury Campus Article: Bosnian Refugees Call Vermont Home
Boston Language Institute: The Bilingual U.S. - Bosnian Burlington Vermont
First Vermont-Bosnian Film Festival
GENERAL BACKGROUND RESOURCES ON BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BBC Bosnia-Herzegovina Timeline: A Chronology of Key Events
Covers the years 1908-2010.
BBC Country Report: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Includes history, maps, information on political structure and media in Bosnia and Herzegovina to date.
The Bosnia Institute
Information on the Bosnian diaspora community and Bosnian culture and history.
CIA World Factbook: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Detailed demographic, economic and political information compiled by the CIA.
Europe and Eurasia: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Site that addresses Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the conflict in Kosovo. Addresses a range of issues from business development to social work. Under the banner of Bosnia- Herzegovina are links a wide variety of pages including stories from those directly impacted by USAID programs, the country profile and selected reports.
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Bosnia
Contemporary and historic maps of Bosnia.