Conflicts of the '90s

In the closing decade of the last century, over one-third of the world's nations were engaged in intense armed clashes at some point. Conflicts of the '90s looks at five major zones of conflict, exploring the role and function of the United Nations, the concept of autonomy, religious/ethnic vs. boundary disputes, and peace initiatives. The idea of the world as a global community--where conflict in even a relatively obscure place can have a ripple effect--is clearly communicated, and the program manages to stay objective, avoiding for the most part ideological statements regarding certain nations enforcing peace in other nations (although the contrast of NATO action in Yugoslavia as opposed to the relative non-action in Rwanda is pointed out). While I would have appreciated more live action footage rather than just map graphics in the beginning, this is an otherwise good resource for history or political science classrooms. Recommended. Aud: H. (E. Gieschen)