Democratization and dominant values in Bosnia and Herzegovina society. Political liberalism vs. authoritarian collectivism
Democratization and dominant values in Bosnia and Herzegovina society. Political liberalism vs. authoritarian collectivism

Author(s): Aleksandar Janković
Subject(s): Politics, Sociology, Political behavior, Post-Communist Transformation, Sociology of Politics, Politics and Identity, Identity of Collectives
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: democratization; dominant values; Bosnia and Herzegovina; political liberalism; authoritarian collectivism; post-socialist transformation
Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the intensity and prevalence of value orientations of political liberalism and authoritarian collectivism among young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina at two points in time: immediately before the fall of the socialist social order (1989) and in the period of post-socialist transformation following the global financial and economic crisis (2012). The analysis relies on the theoretical framework of the theory of value-normative dissonance by Mladen Lazić to show how social consciousness follows structural social changes due to the establishment of the neoliberal model of capitalist regulation. Empirical data from surveys conducted in 1989 and 2012 reveal that, contrary to expectations of growing political liberalism matching the new normative and institutional order, liberal orientations declined while authoritarian collectivism grew, thereby increasing value-normative dissonance. The conclusion highlights that this sustained dissonance undermines the legitimacy of the socio-economic and political reforms.

• Details
• Contents