How and why did the United Nations’ role in the Yugoslav Wars evolve between 1991 and 1995?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Evolution of the United Nations’ Role in the Yugoslav Wars (1991-1995)
Introduction
The Yugoslav Wars, which took place from 1991 to 2001, were a series of conflicts resulting from the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The United Nations (UN) played a crucial role in attempting to resolve and manage these conflicts. Between 1991 and 1995, the UN’s role in the Yugoslav Wars underwent significant evolution due to changing circumstances and the international community’s response. This essay will explore how and why the UN’s role evolved during this period, focusing on peacekeeping efforts, humanitarian intervention, and diplomatic initiatives.
Phase 1: Peacekeeping Efforts (1991-1992)
During the initial phase of the Yugoslav Wars, from 1991 to 1992, the UN’s role primarily focused on peacekeeping efforts. The UN deployed peacekeeping missions to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, aiming to maintain ceasefires and facilitate negotiations between conflicting parties. The UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) was established in 1992 to monitor the implementation of ceasefire agreements. However, the UN faced several challenges, including limited resources, inadequate mandates, and escalating violence on the ground. The evolving conflict dynamics and the parties’ non-compliance with peace agreements led to a reassessment of the UN’s role.
Phase 2: Humanitarian Intervention (1992-1993)
As the Yugoslav Wars intensified and ethnic cleansing campaigns began in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the UN’s role shifted towards humanitarian intervention. In response to the atrocities committed, the international community, led by the UN, established safe zones and humanitarian corridors to protect civilians and provide aid. The UN Security Council authorized the use of force to ensure the safety of these zones. This marked a significant departure from traditional peacekeeping mandates, as the UN became directly involved in protecting civilians and enforcing peace. However, challenges remained, such as limited enforcement capabilities and difficulties in gaining access to affected areas.
Phase 3: Diplomatic Initiatives (1993-1995)
From 1993 to 1995, the UN’s role further evolved towards diplomatic initiatives aimed at finding a political solution to the Yugoslav Wars. The UN facilitated negotiations between warring parties in an attempt to reach peace agreements. Notably, the UN sponsored talks that led to the signing of the Dayton Agreement in 1995, which ended the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This marked a significant achievement for the UN in resolving a complex conflict through diplomatic means. The Dayton Agreement established a framework for post-war governance and reconciliation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Reasons for Evolution
Several factors contributed to the evolution of the UN’s role in the Yugoslav Wars between 1991 and 1995:
Escalation of Violence: The intensification of conflicts and atrocities committed necessitated a more proactive approach from the international community, leading to a shift towards humanitarian intervention.
International Pressure: Growing international pressure on the UN and its member states to address the Yugoslav Wars effectively influenced the organization’s evolving role. The gravity of the situation demanded a more robust response.
Lessons Learned: The UN’s experiences in peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts during this period highlighted shortcomings and necessitated adaptations in its approach. These lessons informed subsequent initiatives and interventions.
Changing Conflict Dynamics: As conflict dynamics shifted and peace agreements proved challenging to implement, diplomatic initiatives became crucial for achieving lasting peace. The evolving situation on the ground demanded a more comprehensive approach.
Conclusion
The United Nations’ role in the Yugoslav Wars underwent significant evolution between 1991 and 1995. Beginning with peacekeeping efforts, it transitioned towards humanitarian intervention as violence escalated and ethnic cleansing campaigns unfolded. Eventually, diplomatic initiatives took center stage as negotiations aimed at finding political solutions became paramount. The evolution of the UN’s role was driven by factors such as escalating violence, international pressure, lessons learned, and changing conflict dynamics. While challenges persisted throughout this period, the UN’s involvement played a crucial role in attempting to bring about peace, protect civilians, and facilitate reconciliation in the aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars.
