Since returning from a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina arranged by The Rockford Institute to consult with the Republic of Srpska (one of Bosnia’s component states) on privatization of its socialist industries, I have given considerable thought as to what Americans (especially Texans) might learn from the recent decomposition of Yugoslavia.

Yugoslavia was created after World War I by President Woodrow Wilson and his allies at Versailles as an ill-conceived conglomeration of Balkan nations freed by the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. Serbia, which had been liberated from the Turks, had an uneasy coexistence until World War II, when it was conquered first by Nazi Germany and subsequently by Soviet-backed communists. The latter liquidated the non-communist, anti-Nazi resistance and superimposed communism. Following the fall of the Iron Curtain and the death of long-time premier Marshal Tito, the decomposition commenced.

Today, Yugoslavia is a fraction of its former domain, comprising the republics of Serbia (which includes the Kosovo region) and Montenegro. Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia have seceded. Under the current truce, Bosnia-Herzegovina is a federation of the Republic of Srpska and the Muslim- Croat enclaves demanded by the United States. Yugoslavia, as constructed by the communists, was to be the consummate multicultural nation, cemented by the fraternal bonds of socialism. But Yugoslavia failed to forge these bonds, ending instead in a savage war between ethnic rivals, primarily because communism could never progress beyond socialist seizure of industry and commerce. Private ownership of homes and property continued, social regimentation never supplanted families, and citizens maintained their religious faith. The people of Yugoslavia refused allegiance to a nation formed with the objective of supplanting their values.

Today in Bosnia-Herzegovina, we find an uneasy truce being policed by the United Nations under U.S. hegemony. This truce was prescribed by the Dayton Accords after the United States armed the Croatians and the Muslims and bombed the Serbs’ key installations. One effect of the war was the displacement of refugees from ethnically mixed communities. While tragic, this does present the opportunity to resettle these refugees along the ethnic lines they prefer, removing the continuing irritant of intermingled peoples who are not likely to live peacefully together. Unfortunately, the United States is backing the return of refugees and the goal—once again—of a multicultural state.

The United States has demonized the Serbs for “ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia, which is what all three parties—Serbs, Croats, and Muslims—were effectively practicing. With roughly equal casualties, all were equally victims. Yet the Serbs have accepted the most refugees, mainly because they are the only ones who do not persecute those of mixed ethnic marriage or descent. The crowning irony is that the United States is propping up Slobodan Milosevic, a former communist who has undertaken neither privatization nor free elections, and who was one of the original belligerents. In the American view, Milosevic now is “cooperative.”

Perhaps the best lesson that Americans can learn from Yugoslavia is that there is no such thing as a multicultural nation. Certainly what has made the United States a great nation is its cultural heritage. The talents which immigrants brought to America from various cultures blossomed in the context of our culture.

We are a product of Western civilization and Christianity, both of which evolved in Europe. Our own derivation of this civilization emphasizes individual rights and responsibility, strong family bonds, limited representative government, religion separated from state, a strong sense of community, free enterprise, private property, the rule of law and reason, and a common language with which we communicate this cultural heritage. To be an American citizen (or, as an immigrant, to aspire to be one) is to join these cultural bonds, not import alternatives. The only real alternative is the eventual dissolution of America — which, if history is any guide, will likely occur under conditions of savage hostility.

Specifically instructive are the circumstances in Kosovo and Muslim Bosnia. Kosovo is the heartland of Orthodox Serbia. Today the region is predominantly peopled by Albanian Muslims, the result of immigration from Albania and victory in a war of reproduction. The Albanians have retained the language, customs, and religion of their mother country, and most observers agree that Kosovo will eventually be annexed by Albania. At the rate that the Muslims are reproducing, Bosnia will soon find that Muslims have replaced the Orthodox Serbs as the majority. Not surprisingly, the Muslims want a strong central government for the confederation they soon will dominate.

There is a lesson here that those of us who live close to our national border should heed. Texas was effectively annexed by Americans whose language and culture were alien to Mexicans. Today, Texas has a reverse demographic shift due to immigration and reproduction, and our politicians are pandering to the Hispanic constituency by encouraging the preservation of a foreign language and culture.

Although most Hispanics, both native born and immigrants, want to be integrated into American society, “Anglo” politicians play on their gut feelings of nationalism and downplay the importance of proficiency in the English language, both of which will limit their social and economic progress. Over the long term, this could lead to an increased desire for separatism and a reversal of allegiance to our country.

The government which governs culture least, governs best. But to the extent that government gets involved in culture through the schooling and assimilation of immigrants, the vast majority of American citizens want our government to defend not some multicultural alternative, but rather our cultural heritage and the borders which guarantee the peace and prosperity this heritage has created. That same vast majority, including the vast majority of Hispanics, strongly oppose the imposition of a multicultural America by a self-appointed cultural elite.