(Un)successful enforcement of democracy: the case study of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Un)successful enforcement of democracy: the case study of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Summary/Abstract: The peculiar case of a strong and powerful international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina embodied through the institution of the High Representative, as well as its impact on democracy has already been approached from various perspectives. However, some questions still remain, most notably those concerning one of the fundamental and necessary elements of democracy – the effective power to govern in the hands of the elected representatives. Focusing on this issue, the article attempts to provide an answer to two questions: firstly, what were the implications of arbitrary imposition of decisions by the High Representative for the effective power to govern of the elected representatives and secondly, why is the effective power to govern in the hands of the elected representatives a crucial component for successful functioning of democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina? By relying on the theory of Embedded democracy by Wolfgang Merkel and methodology based on the understanding and measurement of power by Max Weber and Robert Dahl, the author seeks to contribute to current debates about democracy and democratic consolidation in post-conflict societies. However, he also tries to assess the implications of the use of the Bonn powers and the arbitrary imposition of decisions by the High Representative on the effective power to govern by the elected representatives and explain the reasoning behind the very idea of governance by the elected officials for the successful functioning of democracy.

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