NationStates Jolt Archive

I want to know what you people belive to be the main trait for the Balkans. I am confronted with very distinct points of view, etc.
This is coming with a poll, so wait for a bit. Aside from the poll topics, please share your view on where do you think the Balkans end, and on what they include.

All I can say is that I believe the EU and the NATO are going to be involved for a long time there, just to keep those peoples apart and from killing each other. The whole situation is very complex and seems very screwed up, so, meh... I honestly don't know!

A land full of complex rivalry. Theres just so many fights and stuff going on down there. Its been better since NATO stepped in, and the Kosovo war ended, but still.

Its been a political hot bed ever since the first world war started there. But NATO peacekeepers will still be there in decades to come.

It's Al Qaeda's base in Europe.

http://www.balkanpeace.org/hed/archive/nov01/hed4304.shtml

Maybe the Serbs should have been allowed to finish the job. Maybe I'm just being an asshole. But seriously, it's Al Qaeda's base in Europe.

For me, it is but a part of Europe. Hopefully one day the entire region will be a part of the EU.

I think the Balkans are too unique to be identified by a single word. Their problems are separate from the whole of Europe, mostly because they've been fought over by the more different peoples throughout history compared to the rest of Europe. Adding Stalinism to the mix wasn't helpful, either.

I'd say they begin, (but don't include) East of Italy, South of Austria and Hungary, West of Ukraine, and North of Greece and Turkey. That region is the Balkans.

I think the Balkans are too unique to be identified by a single word. Their problems are separate from the whole of Europe, mostly because they've been fought over by the more different peoples throughout history compared to the rest of Europe. Adding Stalinism to the mix wasn't helpful, either.
Hopefully, entry into the EU will help them out.

I'd say they begin, (but don't include) East of Italy, South of Austria and Hungary, West of Ukraine, and North of Greece and Turkey. That region is the Balkans.
Sounds more or less right.

I think the Balkans are too unique to be identified by a single word. Their problems are separate from the whole of Europe, mostly because they've been fought over by the more different peoples throughout history compared to the rest of Europe. Adding Stalinism to the mix wasn't helpful, either.

I'd say they begin, (but don't include) East of Italy, South of Austria and Hungary, West of Ukraine, and North of Greece and Turkey. That region is the Balkans.
So Greece and Thrace are not in the Balkans?

bump

So Greece and Thrace are not in the Balkans?No, I wouldn't say so...and is Thrace even a country?

No, I wouldn't say so...and is Thrace even a country?
Thrace is a region - I wanted to ask you wether you feel the European part of Turkey (Eastern Thrace) is in the Balkans.
This is not to coach you or anything: I just want to know what you consider the Balkans to be and why.

Thrace is a region - I wanted to ask you wether you feel the European part of Turkey (Eastern Thrace) is in the Balkans.
This is not to coach you or anything: I just want to know what you consider the Balkans to be and why.Ah, that's right, I forgot that. No, I wouldn't say that is either. Essentially, I'd say the Balkans are made up mostly of Slavs in Southern Europe: Greece and Turkey are not mostly Slavic, and so I wouldn't consider them to be Balkan.

Ah, that's right, I forgot that. No, I wouldn't say that is either. Essentially, I'd say the Balkans are made up mostly of Slavs in Southern Europe: Greece and Turkey are not mostly Slavic, and so I wouldn't consider them to be Balkan.
But, in your scheme, Romance-speaking peoples and Albanians (plus Hungarians and Turkish minorities) would have to compose more than half of the total population.

A bunch of poor people that I don’t care about nor see any reason too.

Ofcorse Greece is part of the Balkans. What kind of ridiculous argument is "because Greece isn't Slavic it's not part of the Balkans"?

Greece is the BALKAN penninsula.

But, in your scheme, Romance-speaking peoples and Albanians (plus Hungarians and Turkish minorities) would have to compose more than half of the total population.That's true, which further complicates the whole situation there, why I think that area is more complicated than the rest of Europe.

But as far as i know Greece dosnt have the smae level of 'difficulties' as lets say Serbia, and as far as i know Greece wasnt too heavily involved in armed conflict. But im no expert so tell me if i am wrong.

But as far as i know Greece dosnt have the smae level of 'difficulties' as lets say Serbia, and as far as i know Greece wasnt too heavily involved in armed conflict. But im no expert so tell me if i am wrong.
Well, yes. But does that mean that countries with certain difficulties, wherever they may be, belong in the Balkans, while all countries who no longer have any (but where supposedly part of the same geographical region) leave them the moment that occurs? I mean: is geography dependent on status to the point where regions become football leagues (with promotion/disqualifying)?

It's Al Qaeda's base in Europe.

http://www.balkanpeace.org/hed/archive/nov01/hed4304.shtml

Maybe the Serbs should have been allowed to finish the job. Maybe I'm just being an asshole. But seriously, it's Al Qaeda's base in Europe.

Ouch. Even if it is Al-Q's base... Genocide is many times worse than Islamic Terrorism.

It's Al Qaeda's base in Europe.

http://www.balkanpeace.org/hed/archive/nov01/hed4304.shtml

Maybe the Serbs should have been allowed to finish the job. Maybe I'm just being an asshole. But seriously, it's Al Qaeda's base in Europe.
The site you are quoting is bullshit: check out their "About us" - http://www.balkanpeace.org/about/ .
The gross thing about Serb nationalists is that they can't even let their victims rest. "Finish the job" is just sick: even if you are an American conservative, you don't need to rehabilitate animals like Ratko Mladic.