Lesson plan: Yugoslavia returns from international isolation

November 17, 2000
Web posted at: 4:48 PM EST (2148 GMT)

RELATED SITES

Editor's note: If you are planning to use the news story that this lesson plan is based on for a homework assignment, please write the URL on the board and have your students copy it. CNNfyi.com updates the site in the early evening, so students may have difficulty finding it without the URL. You can find the lesson plan by going to the Subject Areas page and clicking PREVIOUS in the square for Today's Lesson Plan.

Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate different perspectives on the transfer of power in Yugoslavia.
• Discuss international organizations' roles in the rebuilding of Yugoslavia.
• Examine the past conflict and evolving events in the restoration of the Yugoslav government.
• Relate the conflict in Yugoslavia to similar conflicts and peace processes in the world.

Standards

National Council for the Social Studies
VI. Power, Authority and Governance

High school students develop their abilities in the use of abstract principles. They study the various systems that have been developed over the centuries to allocate and employ power and authority in the governing process. At every level, learners should have opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills and to participate in the workings of the various levels of power, authority and governance.

Materials

CNNfyi.com article, "Yugoslavia steadies its course"
Internet access (optional)

Suggested time

One to two class periods

Procedures

1. Ask students what they know about the conflict in Yugoslavia. Who were the key groups involved? What was the cause of the conflict? What was the outcome of the fighting? Discuss the recent events in Yugoslavia with the class, including the ousting of former President Slobodan Milosevic from power. Why was this event significant? Have students read the CNNfyi.com article "Yugoslavia steadies its course." Ask the following:

• Who is the new leader of Yugoslavia? Did he win the election fairly, according to the article? Why did Milosevic have to be removed from office? What groups have recently accepted Yugoslavia into their organizations? Why? What is the Stability Pact? Why is it significant that Yugoslavia is now a member? What is the purpose of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe?
• How did the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations attempt to force Milosevic from power? Were they successful? Explain what happened to people in Yugoslavia while the country was being sanctioned? How do you think the people feel now that their country is nearing a more stable position in the world? Indicate why NATO forces dropped bombs on the country in 1999. Do you believe that NATO's actions were necessary to move the country forward? Explain.
• France's ambassador to the United Nations, Jean-David Levitte, said, "With legitimate pride, the Yugoslav people are going to take their rightful place in the concert of nations." What do you think this statement means for the Yugoslav people? Explain your position.

2. Research the history of the Yugoslav nation and the surrounding area using online and/or media resources. Have students draft lists of outstanding issues and concerns that need to be addressed by the leaders and people of Yugoslavia at this crucial stage (i.e., food, enormous debt, infrastructure problems, etc.) Once students draft lists of concerns, direct them to compare the case in Yugoslavia to other studies of countries that bounced back after war or turmoil. Then instruct students to make recommendations to the Yugoslav government for how it might proceed.

Accommodation

Logical-mathematical: Keep a log (either weekly or monthly) to chronicle events in Yugoslavia. Research newspapers and/or online media to find out the latest news on the new regime. Create a time line from September's presidential election to the present.

Assessment

Have students compare their recommendations with those presented in U.N. or U.S. documents. They may use the Web sites below to research those documents. Direct students to present their findings to the class using a round-table format in which group participation is welcomed.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
United Nations
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.