Though the Bosnia War ended thirty years ago, its impact is still felt today. It is this bitter ethno-national conflict that still drives the present-day politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The war started in the early 1990s following the breakup of Yugoslavia. It was a war fueled by virulent ethnic hatred mainly between Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs. Today, the impacts of the war are still shaping the social, political, and economic current affairs of the country.
The war was formally brought to an end when the Dayton Agreement was signed in December of 1995. This peace agreement created a fragile political architecture designed to preserve balance through the parties’ shared control of their country’s variegated ethnic landscape. The history, effects, and legacy of the war continue to be seen in many aspects of Bosnian society today. Ethnic divisions exist between many government officials, often leading to disruptions in civic governance and civil-military relations within communities.
Political scientists are warning that the legacy of the post-war political consensus has left a political architecture of political fragmentation that makes it difficult for leaders to act decisively. The power-sharing arrangement dictated by the Dayton Agreement calls for consensus among the three dominant ethnic groups. This desire for solidarity is motivated by a desire to avoid retribution. It frequently results in counterproductive political gridlock and frustrates a majority of citizens.
Additionally, the impacts of the war can be seen in Bosnia’s economy. Despite a fragile recovery, many areas are in a continued recession, with double and triple digit unemployment across the nation. The scars left by the conflict have played a key role in deteriorating inter-community relations, making reconciliation even more difficult. Psychological and physical wounds from the conflict plague many citizens, who still suffer from their experiences in the war.
In education, the impact of the ongoing conflict is heavy. Schools can be a microcosm of ethnic tensions, with students forced to go to different schools due to intolerance connected with their culture. This state-sponsored segregation in our educational systems only continues to deepen biases and breeds greater misunderstanding and mistrust between our communities. Many other efforts to advance more inclusive curricula have faced opposition, underlining the toxicity, fragility, and enduring battle over the issues still left unaddressed.
Internationally, Bosnia’s path to European Union membership has been marred by the country’s ethnic division. Thus far, the EU’s insisted unity and cooperation among ethnic groups should be requirements for integration. Uniting to accomplish this is an immense challenge though, as many old tensions and political agendas remain.
