International involvement in Ethnic-conflict: comparing Balkans and the Middle East

The Israeli-Palestinian and the Balkans conflicts range among the cases most observed and compared by conflict analysts. They pertain to the same typology of conflict even maintaining differences and particularities. In spite of common elements, the international effort to manage and resolve these disputes was almost divergent in negotiating practices, use of force and actors involved. The aim of this paper is to explain why international involvement in the two cases was deeply different both in quantitative and qualitative terms. The analysis proceeds first of all comparing Israeli-Palestinian and the Balkans conflicts during the period 1991-2001. In the second paragraph the differences of international intervention in the two cases will be highlighted. The last part provide a research puzzle explanation based on the theory of International Government and hegemony.