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North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The "Anti-Bureaucratic Revolution": A Chilling Analogy Between Milosevic and Clinton

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Serbs today feel trapped between two antagonists, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and President Clinton, as evident from graffiti on walls in Belgrade that reads ``Slobo you, Clinton.'' This impossible choice reflects the similarities between Milosevic's and Clinton's policies and practices at a deeper level. Both leaders have used the humanitarian argument to justify military intervention, ignoring existing institutional frameworks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Milosevic built his appeal by invoking universal human rights, despite switching from communism to nationalism.
  • He positioned himself as a ``humanitarian mediator'' to protect minority rights in Kosovo.
  • The Yugoslavian constitutional framework provided for Albanian autonomy, making it difficult for Milosevic to justify intervention.
  • Milosevic's ``anti-bureaucratic revolution'' encouraged a solution by ignoring bureaucratic obstacles.
  • Milosevic ignored Yugoslav political institutions in 1987, undermining their authority and ultimately demolishing them.
  • Clinton and NATO used similar tactics to justify military intervention in Yugoslavia, bypassing the United Nations.
  • This ``anti-bureaucratic revolution'' sets a dangerous precedent worldwide, with implications yet to be seen.

Statistics:

  • In 1987, the violent clash between the Serbian minority and Albanian-controlled police in Kosovo led to Milosevic's rise to power.
  • Milosevic's humanitarian rhetoric changed the course of events in Yugoslavia, leading to the current NATO attacks.
  • The current NATO campaign has raised concerns about the dangers of the ``anti-bureaucratic revolution'' set into motion.
  • The breakdown of the former Yugoslavia serves as a warning about the dangers of ignoring institutional frameworks.

Sources:

  • Lev Kreft, Slovenian writer
  • Slobodan Milosevic, Yugoslav President
  • Boris Buden, editor in chief of the journal Bastard in Zagreb, Croatia
  • Global Beat Syndicate
  • Faces on the News on PressLink Online
  • Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

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