Three Decades of International Peacebuilding. Lessons Learned in BiH
Three Decades of International Peacebuilding. Lessons Learned in BiH

Summary/Abstract: The article argues that engagement of external actors with post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina has undergone three phases. In the initial phase (1996–2005), the international community appeared united and committed to the success of the peace process. However, it failed to hand ownership of the process over to the local decision-makers. A debate over the termination of external governance marked the second phase (2006–2014). The emergence of divergent approaches to the transition to local ownership encouraged BiH’s political leaders to question the progress made to that point. Finally, the third phase (2014 onwards) has entangled the country in the great powers’ confrontation. In this setting, while the international community’s agreement on a new peacebuilding approach has been elusive, nationalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been emboldened to escalate their divisive agendas. Crucially, neither the EU nor local decision-makers have demonstrated a strong commitment to BiH’s EU membership, which is currently the sole strategy presented to the country to promote reconciliation, foster state-building, and consolidate democracy.

• Details
• Contents