balkananalysis.com
March 17, 2011
By Lana Pasic*
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic society, comprising three main ethnic groups (or ‘constituent peoples,’ as defined by the Constitution) and 17 minorities, as noted by the OSCE Mission in BiH in 2010. However, though this ‘multinationalism’ can be found in one state, Bosnia is certainly not an example of one nation.
As the country went through various transitions following the early 1990s turmoil and war, the ethnic groups residing in the country drew further apart. Not only are there physical entity and cantonal borders, but ethnicity is also institutionalized in all aspects of political life in BiH. The ethnic segregation is evident when it comes to living areas, government, voting, education and even languages, which are intelligible. Thus, the separated areas, or ethnically pure “ghettos” have developed (Flottau and Kraske 2005).
The most important boundaries however, are the mental and psychological divisions, which have been deepened by the Bosnian politicians. The society is divided, there is a lack of trust and the relations between the various ethnic groups have been deteriorating, as was noted in a 2009 UNDP report entitled The Ties that Bind: Social Capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (National Human Development Report, Sarajevo: UNDP). In such conditions it is difficult to talk about nation-building....more...
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic society, comprising three main ethnic groups (or ‘constituent peoples,’ as defined by the Constitution) and 17 minorities, as noted by the OSCE Mission in BiH in 2010. However, though this ‘multinationalism’ can be found in one state, Bosnia is certainly not an example of one nation.
As the country went through various transitions following the early 1990s turmoil and war, the ethnic groups residing in the country drew further apart. Not only are there physical entity and cantonal borders, but ethnicity is also institutionalized in all aspects of political life in BiH. The ethnic segregation is evident when it comes to living areas, government, voting, education and even languages, which are intelligible. Thus, the separated areas, or ethnically pure “ghettos” have developed (Flottau and Kraske 2005).
The most important boundaries however, are the mental and psychological divisions, which have been deepened by the Bosnian politicians. The society is divided, there is a lack of trust and the relations between the various ethnic groups have been deteriorating, as was noted in a 2009 UNDP report entitled The Ties that Bind: Social Capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (National Human Development Report, Sarajevo: UNDP). In such conditions it is difficult to talk about nation-building....more...
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