Abstract

This article concentrates on the post-war situation in the countries emerging from the former socialist Yugoslavia. It also shortly deals with developments in other countries of Southeastern Europe where confrontations between different ethnicities with different languages, religious denominations and political orientations have also triggered protracted conflicts. These are less in the focus of public debate and research activities, although most of them are not yet resolved satisfactorily. The purpose of the study is to evaluate different ways of coming to terms with a violent – or “negative” – past which is difficult to remember and does not fit into the normal glorifying ceremonies of national remembrance. The end of the Yugoslavian wars have brought political peace but if “inner peace” within and between the societies of the former warring parties has been reached is still questionable.