Why was the breakup of Yugoslavia so messy and long?

Question

And what exactly happened during the Bosnian and Kosovo Wars?

Answer 1

Yugoslavia was a monster constructed by the Versailles conference after WWI. It was put together of bits and pieces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Whatever his faults were (and they were many) Tito was a genius at keeping Yugoslavia together after WWII. When he died, everyone expected the place would fall apart immediately, but it held together for another 8 years or so.

Slovenia broke away first, and it was pretty peaceful. But the Serbs, the Croats, the Kosovars, and the Moslems (mostly Bosnians and Albanians) were dying to get at each other, and they did with a bloody will. Psychologically, they were re-fighting battles from the 14th century and resentments that went back that far.

A pity.

Answer 2

Because, like the formation of Iraq from multiple countries by outside powers, it joins people together who have ancient cultural, political and spiritual conflicts - assuming that all will "work out" simply by everyone "being under one roof".  In both instances (Hussein in Iraq and Tito in Yugoslavia) you end up with harsh, despotic leaders who seize control to "make everyone get along", which is followed by resentment, then resistance, then conflict.  

Answer 3

It's a multicultural area and not long out from under the rule of Tito. That means local government. Constitutional controls on government authority are ill-defined, and there was no control for individual safety. Some wag once said something about democracy being two lions and a lamb deciding what's for dinner. It works something like that if there aren't greater controls.