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F Serbia had used the term “murder” rather than “ethnic cleansing” to describe its actions against Muslims, it is likely that they would have

proceeded in exactly the same way.
won more civilian support for their actions.
felt too guilty to continue with their plans.
achieved their goals more quickly.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Changing the term to 'murder' might have affected perceptions, but the Serbian nationalists were driven by the idea of a 'Greater Serbia' and likely would have pursued their objectives regardless of the terminology used. The term 'ethnic cleansing' was a euphemistic description of the genocide and atrocities committed.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Serbia had used the term "murder" rather than "ethnic cleansing" to describe its actions against Muslims, the perception of its actions might have been different, but it is speculative to determine the exact impact of this wording change on their objectives. The term "ethnic cleansing" is euphemistic and was used during the conflicts to describe actions that were part of a larger systematic campaign by Serbs against Bosnian Muslims, which included genocide, forced displacement, and other atrocities.

The term "murder" implies criminality and immorality on a more direct and personal scale, potentially engendering a greater sense of guilt or international outrage. However, it is important to note that the aggressors were committed to a nationalist ideology that sought to create a homogeneous 'Greater Serbia'. Regardless of the terminology used, they engaged in severe acts of violence aiming to remove non-Serb populations, which likely would have continued as part of their nationalist goals.

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