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This will give you a brief history of Yugoslavia in the 20th century. The roots of the conflict actually go much deeper, back six hundred years to the enslavement of the Slavs by the Ottoman empire. That is where the word, slave, comes from.

2.3 Communist Yugoslavia

The leader of Communist Yugoslavia from 1946 until his death in 1980 was Josip Broz, known by his World-War-II nom de guerre, Tito. He came to power largely by default: in 1937, Stalin had executed the entire leadership of the Yugoslav Communist Party. In 1948 Stalin accused Tito of heretical beliefs, and Yugoslavia was cut off from aid by the U.S.S.R. and its allies. Tito turned to the West for assistance. Viewing Tito as a bulwark between Russia and the Mediterranean, the U.S. began lavishing foreign aid on Yugoslavia.

Communist Yugoslavia, also known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY, officially had 2 alphabets (Latin and Cyrillic), 3 religions (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Muslim), 4 languages (Serbo-Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian, Albanian), 6 republics (Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Serbia, plus Serbia's 2 autonomous provinces, Kosovo and Vojvodina), and 7 major nationalities, including Albanians and Hungarians. Of these Serbs were by far the largest group, at about 40%. "Ethnic diversity" was encouraged, e.g., minorities were guaranteed the use of their native language in local government and elementary schools. Although some ethnic groups demanded independence under Tito, he squelched them with a "return to Leninism" - party purges - and threats of military force. Some credit Tito's taboo on nationalism with keeping Yugoslavia united for 40 years. But while he did forcibly suppress ethnic groups who declared independence, his policy of allowing and encouraging ethnic diversity was essentially an affirmation of tribalism. Tribalism was bound to erupt again once the lid was less securely fastened on the pressure cooker.

After Tito's death in 1980 a collective presidency was established, with one member from each of the 6 republics and the 2 autonomous provinces. This system started to unravel when various ethnic groups once again began demanding autonomy. Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia declared their independence in 1991, followed by Bosnia in 1992. Serbia and Montenegro, with Serbia's autonomous provinces Vojvodina and Kosovo, then joined to form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Kosovo sought independence in 1999, but has for the time being been repressed.