An Architecture of Opportunism

Abstract

The irregular dynamics that emerged with the support of Croatian state structures may not have been either as planned or as efficient as their Serbian counterparts, but pro-Croat paramilitary groups enjoyed a similarly varied degree of patronage from their political and military authorities. Irregulars were responsible for some of the worst atrocities committed against non-Croats in Croatia and in Bosnia. The chapter explains that the majority of irregular perpetrators of the documented crimes fit into the Croat architecture of violence and were only rarely genuinely independent combatants. While the various paramilitary, militia and local defence units contributed numbers and ideology to the evolution of the Croatian military architecture, the military police force ran like a central artery through emergent armed commands in both Croatia and Bosnia. Ultimately, the Croatian strategy was characterised by the pragmatic pursuit of its political objectives through violent and diplomatic means.