The breakup of Yugoslavia was caused by a complex combination of factors including rising nationalism, economic difficulties, political instability, and ethnic tensions. After the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980, who had been a unifying leader, the country faced growing internal divisions. Ethnic groups sought independence and self-rule, partly due to nationalist aspirations and partly due to dissatisfaction with how economic resources were distributed among the different republics. Political struggles intensified as the Serbian- dominated government tried to maintain control, which led to conflicts with other republics such as Slovenia and Croatia that sought independence. These tensions eventually escalated into armed conflicts known as the Yugoslav Wars, resulting in the breakup of Yugoslavia into several independent states between 1991 and 2001. External influences and international politics also played roles but the primary driver was internal ethnic and political fragmentation.