The silent passing of Bosnian proconsulship
By lifting the OHR's remaining bans, Valentin Inzko has quietly conceded that the OHR no longer has the moral authority to dismiss people from public office or to punish them by international decree, thereby marking a profound change in the international community's attitudes towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Emerging from the margins
Constructing creative and useful approaches to both former Ottoman peripheries - the Balkans and the Middle East - requires shedding tattered notions of Western “leadership” and recognizing opportunities inherent in the acknowledgement of one’s own limits.
Milorad Dodik and the politics of referendum
Through threats and cajolements, Dodik is proving remarkably adept
The dangerous politics of leverage – Republika Srpska
Dodik's decision to postpone a controversial entity-wide referendum on the decisions of the international high representative will likely amount to yet another postponement of the much needed critical reexamination of the politics of the region and the political institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ante Gotovina and the politics of international justice
In light of the ICTY’s verdict finding two Croatian military leaders, Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac, guilty of war crimes, all the evidence points to Operation Storm being sanctioned in the fullest degree by the international community.
The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina faces "inevitable collapse"
An interview with Matthew Parish, the former Chief Legal Adviser to the International Supervisor of Brčko, on the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the challenges surrounding government formation and the Republika Srpska's proposed referendum on the Court and Prosecutor’s Office.
Bosnia – not your father’s Sporazum
The current politics of “2 against 1” reflect the failure that is Bosnia and the danger that a Dayton arrangement acceptable to none of the country’s players - except maybe for Dodik - could provoke challenges even more unexpected and indelible than those so far evident.
Inside Conflict – Banja Luka today
As part of our Inside Conflict initiative, TransConflict Serbia organised a study-visit to Banja Luka for a group of American students participating in the SIT Study Abroad Programme – Peace and Conflict Studies in the Balkans.
Western Balkans – the situation is gloomier than it may seem
While the EU is closing the final chapters of the accession negotiations with Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are keenly eyeing the prospect of becoming member candidates. However, can the EU integrate the whole region, including Kosovo and Bosnia?
Croat crisis pushes Bosnia towards endgame
The inability of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political system to represent Croat interests will bring the stricken country to its knees – and provide useful cover for the Bosnian Serb leader’s plans.
Cross-border cooperation in the Western Balkans – roadblocks and prospects
Whilst business-related initiatives continue to drive regional and cross-border cooperation, politics and implementation capacity have failed to live-up to the standards expected by the plethora of international bodies engaged in strengthening this key area.
The dance of intimate enemies
Settlements in Bosnia and Kosovo (the former is no more “settled” than the latter) are possible only if local contestants — who know each other so well — expel international mavens from their discussions and take each other on directly.
Ples intimnih neprijatelja
Rešenja u Bosni i na Kosovu (prvi slučaj nije ništa više "rešen" u odnosu na potonji) su moguća samo ukoliko lokalni suprostavljeni akteri - koji se uzajamno jako dobro poznaju - iz svojih diskusija izbace međunarodne stručnjake i direktno se upuste u diskusiju jedni sa drugima.
In defense of Richard Holbrooke
Critics of Richard Holbrooke and the Dayton Peace Agreement are completely wrong - it was not Dayton that ethnically divided Bosnian politics and society, but rather that Bosnia's divided society and politics resulted in Dayton.
U odbranu Ričarda Holbruka
Kritičari Ričarda Holbruka i Dejtonskog mirovnog sporazuma u potpunosti greše – nije Dejton ono što je etnički podelilo bosansku politiku i društvo, već su bosansko podeljeno društvo i suprostavljena politika doveli do Dejtona.
Albania’s divisive political atmosphere – time for a change
Amidst the threat of further political fragmentation, Albania should launch an independent investigation into the deaths of four protesters and ensure that May's local elections are both free and fair.
Dodik’s next move – squeezing Brcko dry
With VAT the biggest single source of government revenue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) will be the next target of Milorad Dodik's agenda to weaken state institutions.
The future of Serbia is in defining its interests – a response
Solutions to the problems facing the region - particularly that of Kosovo's disputed status - require that the international community cease actively supporting one side over the other and instead pursue a more balanced approach.
The future of Serbia is in defining its interests
Instead of focusing on the old habit of 'nationalism' and 'national interest', Serbia needs to define its future position regionally and globally, particularly with respect to EU integration, Kosovo and Bosnia.
The Western Balkans in 2010 – small improvements, big scandals
Though the prospect of EU candidate status spurred on some very real changes in the region in 2010 - particularly concerning regional co-operation and tackling corruption - several scandals, especially those in Kosovo, threaten to inhibit further progress.
Bosniak nationalism – the end of exceptionalism?
By ignoring the manipulation of Bosniak identity, particularly by ex-president Haris Silajdzic, the international community has contributed to the destabilization of Bosnia and Herzegovina's current institutional framework.
Strengthening the external dimensions of Dayton Bosnia
Learning from the experiences of Northern Ireland - particularly the North/South Ministerial Council - could help Bosnia and Herzegovina move beyond its current reform impasse.
Bosnia – the challenges of constitutional reform
In an exclusive interview for TransConflict, professor Bruce Hitchner, chair of the Dayton Peace Accords Project, discusses the prospects for constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina following October's elections.
Forwards or backwards? – assessing the EU's enlargement agenda
A selection of key findings from the 2010 progress reports for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRoM), Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99), Montenegro and Serbia.
EU accession and peacebuilding
Extracts from a report on a recent seminar, entitled ‘EU accession and peacebuilding’, organized by the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), which took place in Belgrade on 28-29th September 2010.
