"We should do everything to prevent a violent disintegration," he said.

From 1990-1997, she was the Balkans correspondent for the Financial Times and covered Yugoslavia's violent disintegration.

Like Francie, the murderous child at the center of "The Butcher Boy," Joey is meant to stand for the violent disintegration at the heart of Irish culture, the peace that eludes Ireland's collective psyche as well as its streets.

The rebel advance raises the serious prospect of the violent disintegration of Zaire, which by virtue of its size, population and mineral wealth is one of Africa's most important countries.

Belittled by democratic opponents, the Soviet President has by force of character put himself at the center of the struggle to prevent the violent disintegration of a far-flung empire.

Although there is some hope that a compromise will emerge, many fear this latest crisis will only hasten the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia.

With Zairians worried about the potential for a violent disintegration of their country, many observers suspect that Mr. Mobutu senses a chance to rehabilitate his reputation with the population.

While the main foreign policy event of the book is the violent disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, Halberstam also covers Somalia, Rwanda and Haiti.

Stevie's violent disintegration, however disturbing to think about, only assured the success; for, of course, the knocking down of a wall was not the aim of Mr Vladimir's menaces, but the production of a moral effect.

The European Union was traumatised by its powerlessness in the face of the process of violent disintegration at work in the Balkans.