The Bridge Betrayed

The Bridge Betrayed examines religious nationalism and genocide in Bosnia during the 1990s. Michael Sells investigates how religious mythology and symbolism were used to justify ethnic cleansing. The book traces the roots of religious conflict in the Balkans through historical analysis and primary sources. It documents specific instances of persecution and violence while exploring the broader ideological frameworks that enabled mass atrocities. The author analyzes media coverage, political speeches, and religious texts to demonstrate how ancient religious narratives were transformed into modern propaganda. The role of international observers and Western responses to the crisis receive particular focus. The Bridge Betrayed reveals the dangers of manipulating religious identity for nationalist aims and the consequences when ancient hatreds are reawakened for political purposes. Its examination of how genocide becomes possible remains relevant for understanding modern conflicts.

Readers commend the book's detailed documentation of religious symbolism used to justify ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. Many note its effectiveness in explaining how religious nationalism fueled violence, with one reader calling it "meticulous in connecting religious rhetoric to acts of genocide." Readers appreciate the thorough analysis of media coverage and Western response to the conflict. Multiple reviews highlight the chapter on rape camps as particularly impactful. Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult to follow - Some readers feel it focuses too heavily on Serbian actions while minimizing other factors - Several note the book's brevity leaves certain topics unexplored Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (48 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (16 ratings) A University of Chicago reviewer states: "Sells provides crucial background for understanding how religious identity became weaponized, though the writing can be dry at times."

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🔹 Author Michael Sells is a professor of Islamic History and Literature at the University of Chicago Divinity School, bringing deep academic expertise to his analysis of religious violence in Bosnia. 🔹 The book specifically examines how religious symbolism and myths were manipulated to justify ethnic cleansing during the Bosnian War (1992-1995), particularly through the concept of "Christoslavism." 🔹 The term "genocide" was first coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944 to describe Nazi actions against Jews, but The Bridge Betrayed helped establish that the term could be applied to the systematic destruction of Bosnian Muslims in the 1990s. 🔹 The "bridge" in the title refers to the historic Mostar Bridge, built in 1566, which symbolized centuries of multi-religious coexistence before its deliberate destruction in 1993 during the conflict. 🔹 The book reveals how Serbian nationalist propaganda transformed Bosnian Muslims from neighbors into "Turks," linking them to the historical Ottoman Empire to justify violence against them, despite their shared Slavic heritage.