Alija Izetbegović and the Markale Massacre: Media, Responsibility, and Public Reaction
Alija Izetbegović and the Markale Massacre: Media, Responsibility, and Public Reaction

Summary/Abstract: This article investigates the Markale market massacres in Sarajevo (1994 and 1995) as defining moments of the Bosnian War, focusing on the central role of Alija Izetbegović, President of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It argues that the massacres were not only episodes of mass civilian suffering but also pivotal sites where Izetbegović’s leadership intersected with contested media discourses and international diplomacy. His statements, symbolic gestures, and political positioning became crucial in framing the massacres as evidence of aggression and in mobilizing both domestic resilience and international sympathy. Drawing on media reports, political documents, and secondary scholarship, the article analyzes how narratives of victimhood, responsibility, and legitimacy were constructed around Izetbegović’s role, and how these narratives influenced public perception, shaped Bosnia’s international standing, and contributed to NATO’s eventual intervention. By highlighting the interplay between wartime leadership, discourse, and power, the study underscores the importance of Izetbegović’s agency in both the immediate crisis and its longer-term historical memory.

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