"The violent disintegration of the former Yugoslavia and the war in Kosovo have highlighted the importance of a detailed understanding of the Balkan region. The political outlook and behavior of the Serbs and Serbian elites has been particularly bewildering to Western citizens and decision-makers.

Serpent in the Bosom provides an analysis of Serbian politics from 1987 to 2000 that centers on an examination of Slobodan Milosevic's rise to power and his pattern of rule up to and including the recent war in Kosovo. Lenard Cohen examines Milosevic's shrewd admixture of Serbian nationalism and socialism, his utilization of the media as part of his "technology of rule," the employment of the educational system as a vehicle for political socialization. He also explores Milosevic's complex relationship with Serbia's intelligentsia, the Serbian Orthodox church, the police, and the army.

What emerges is a clear understanding of Serbia's enigmatic leader and his influence on the Balkans."--BOOK JACKET.