Balkan Odyssey a personal account of the international peace efforts following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia

by David L. Owen

The chief European Community negotiator provides a close-up look at events in the Balkans since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, examining failed international peace efforts, condemning U.S. Balkan policies, and offering a personal chronicle of efforts to end the civil war. 50,000 first printing.

Genres: History, War

389 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

David Owen is the author of Hidden Evidence and Hidden Secrets. He has written extensively on military deception, espionage, and written and produced television documentaries on computer crime and electronic intelligence.

Reviews

[John Farebrother · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for anyone interested in the Balkans. In it the much-maligned David Owen sets out in exhaustive detail the political process that clung to the Yugoslav Wars like a pilot fish feeding of a great white. While international political efforts have often been written off as a failed side-show to the real event, this blow-by-blow account is replete with important and fascinating details. It lays bare the villainous character of all the main local protagonists, and Owen does not shy away from criticism of his own efforts. The war cannot be properly understood without a thorough grasp of the international political dimension, and this book delivers just that.

[Kimmo K · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that gives general picture of the Balkan conflicts (excluding Kosovo) and their causes, this is not the one. But if you are already somewhat familiar of the complex conflict this book gives good viewpoint from peace builder's/diplomat's view and some significant insights. Mr Owen seemed to understand the conflict pretty well - unlike certain other diplomat in the area at the time... I'm referring to that "sandbag" from my country that received later a Nobel peace prize. Yugoslavian conflict(s) ended my trust on western media in general, that prize deepened badly my mistrust on Nobel committee.