The Dayton Peace Agreement. A Power-Sharing System Better than Its Reputation?
The Dayton Peace Agreement A Power-Sharing System Better than Its Reputation?

Summary/Abstract: Much has been written about the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), which ended nearly four years of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Whilst its success in bringing an end to the bloodshed is generally acknowledged, many assessments of the peace agreement emphasize its inability to provide a proper framework for state reconstruction and democratization. Nevertheless, this contribution highlights how the DPA not only ended the violent conflict where other peace proposals had failed but also laid the foundations for regular and competitive elections in BiH. The DPA has many flaws and deficiencies, but BiH today is a country deeply embedded in the process of European integration, in which even the most recent political crisis around Serb leader Milorad Dodik has not sparked widespread fears of new violence and war. Whilst Dayton’s flaws cannot be ignored – and ultimately need to be addressed – its successful contribution to peace should not be underestimated.

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