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Yugoslavia

Definition

Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe during most of the 20th century. It came into existence after World War I in 1918 under the name of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by union of the South Slavic regions. After World War II, it became a socialist federation known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Analogy

Think about your school's sports team that has players from different grades or classes. Each player brings their unique skills but they all play together under one team name. Similarly, Yugoslavia was made up of several different ethnic groups (Serbs, Croats, Slovenes etc.) who were united under one nation.

Related terms

Balkans: A geographical region in Southeast Europe with various and disputed borders.

Ethnic Cleansing: The mass expulsion or killing of members from a targeted ethnic or religious group in a geographic area to create an ethnically homogeneous region.

Titoism: A post-World War II policy in Yugoslavia advocating national independence within a framework of international nonalignment.