Od šutnje do sjećanja: Uloga kulture u održavanju sjećanja na genocid u Srebrenici i oko nje
From Silence to Remembrance: The Role of Culture in Sustaining the Memory of the Genocide in and around Srebrenica

Author(s): Sarina Bakić
Subject(s): Sociology of Culture, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Historical revisionism, Politics of History/Memory, Wars in Jugoslavia
Published by: Institut za istraživanje zločina protiv čovječnosti i međunarodnog prava Univerziteta u Sarajevu
Keywords: Srebrenica Genocide; role of culture; active participation; cultural practices; culture countering nationalist narratives;
Summary/Abstract: The genocide in and around Srebrenica remains a serious and devastating event in the history of Europe. Yet, despite its undeniable historical significance, the struggle to preserve its memory continues to be fraught with political, social, and cultural challenges. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where ethnic divisions are deeply entrenched, the commemoration of Srebrenica’s victims is not merely an act of remembrance but a battlefield for shaping collective identity and historical truth. The role of culture in keeping the memory of Srebrenica alive is multifaceted, serving as both a means of personal and collective healing and as a powerful tool against the politics of denial and distortion. Despite widespread international recognition of this atrocity, efforts to preserve its memory face continuous challenges, including the already created culture of denial and political manipulation. This article explores the crucial role of culture in the process of memory-keeping and remembrance in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through an examination of cultural practices such as art, literature, music, memorials, and education, this study investigates how cultural expressions shape collective memory, challenge denial, and contribute to the long-term and challenging process of reconciliation. By analysing how survivors and local communities engage with these cultural forms, the author underscores how culture serves as a tool for both personal healing and collective identity formation. Furthermore, it addresses the importance of culture in countering nationalist narratives that seek to obscure or diminish the scale of the Srebrenica Genocide.

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