Th is study sets out to examine what lessons can be learned from the General Framework Agreement ... more Th is study sets out to examine what lessons can be learned from the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Th e Dayton Peace Agreement) 1995, with particular relevance to inter-ethnic reconciliation. Th e author conducted his fi eldwork in Sarajevo during May, 2009, complementing these fi ndings with materials and information collected during his previous visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Th e study identifi es a number of important lessons, and presents them in relation to the process of negotiations, designing of provisions, and implementation of the agreement. Regarding the process, the study suggests that those organising the negotiations should strive to coordinate their eff orts in order to avoid duplications and internal confl icts. Furthermore, the paper calls for caution regarding power negotiations that are modelled on the exclusion of one or a few main parties to the confl icts. In relation to the key provision -reconciliation -one should not neglect local practices of power-sharing and societal organization that traditionally served as pillars of peaceful inter-group coexistence. Imposition of external models that are not in line with local political and societal traditions may rub inter-ethnic relations and negatively aff ect long-term reconciliation. Regarding the implementation phase, two key lessons are highlighted. First, for a successful implementation it is essential to have clear goal and to work with realistic deadlines for implementations. Unrealistic deadlines may create wrong incentives for the primary parties implementing the agreement. Secondly, if provisions include external supervision of the implementation of the agreement, one should consider how this would aff ect domestic ownership of the process. In such an environment, various reconciliatory measures, regardless of how well intended they may be, stand little chance of immediate success.
Ambivalent Peacebuilders? : Exploring Trends and Motivations in Transnational Practices of Bosnians-Herzegovinians in Sweden
Ambivalent Peacebuilders? : Exploring Trends and Motivations in Transnational Practices of Bosnia... more Ambivalent Peacebuilders? : Exploring Trends and Motivations in Transnational Practices of Bosnians-Herzegovinians in Sweden
Education through regulation? : External intervenion in domestic politics in post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina
Education through regulation? : External intervenion in domestic politics in post-Dayton Bosnia a... more Education through regulation? : External intervenion in domestic politics in post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina
American nation-building abroad: Exceptional powers, broken promises and the making of ‘Bosnia’
American nation-building abroad : Exceptional powers, broken promisses, and the making of 'Bo... more American nation-building abroad : Exceptional powers, broken promisses, and the making of 'Bosnia'
Bosnia and Herzegovina: two decades of diplomatic counterinsurgencies and the struggle for political influence
Bosnia and Herzegovina: two decades of diplomatic counterinsurgencies and the struggle for politi... more Bosnia and Herzegovina: two decades of diplomatic counterinsurgencies and the struggle for political influence
This paper aims to investigate the effects of hostland integration on reconciliatory attitudes am... more This paper aims to investigate the effects of hostland integration on reconciliatory attitudes among diasporas. In recent scholarly debates, many argue that as a result of a lack of hostland social integration, diasporas are less moderate in their approach to homeland conflicts than those in the homeland. During periods of peace, 'rebellionspecific capital' in the homeland is thought to decrease as tensions ease, while the hatreds harbored by diasporas remain strong. This predominant view has recently been challenged by a new body of work suggesting that diasporas are not homogenous but are rather characterized by diversity both in terms of their political views and the political and economic effects of their transnational activities. While some tend to promote ethnic nationalism and war, others encourage peacemaking and peacebuilding. While we know that there is variation in diaspora attitudes, previous explanations remain underdeveloped and lack a solid foundation in systematic empirical evidence. In this paper we develop an alternative theory to explain the relationship between hostland integration and diaspora attitudes. Until now most theories specified the need for hostland social integration to induce moderation among diasporas. Our argument, based on findings in social psychology and social work, is that structural integration empowers diasporas and through providing psychological coherence enables them to deal with the past and envision a common future with other groups both in the host and homeland. As the basis for examining our claims, we have collected a unique set of survey data on integration and reconciliatory attitudes among four diasporas in Sweden: Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs and Yugoslavs. We test the effects of social and structural integration on diaspora attitudes towards the nature of the recent war, societal organization, forgiveness and prospects for peaceful coexistence in their homelands. In order to investigate whether integration into Swedish society explains observed differences among diasporas in Sweden, we control for homeland background factors, for example refugee status and previous education, and demographic variables, for example gender and age. Our results indicate that while social integration has little or no effect on reconciliatory attitudes among the respondents, structural integration has a strong and positive effect. We argue that structural integration based on language training, citizenship, education and employment empowers diasporas with positive attitudes and confidence that enable them to envision a common future with other groups both in the host and homeland.
Hostland Integration and Homeland Reconciliation: Bosnian Serb Diaspora in Sweden
... resources are of tremendous importance.13 In countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina ... oth... more ... resources are of tremendous importance.13 In countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina ... other transfers are 'a sine qua non for peace and rebuilding' (Fagen and Bump ... diaspora professionals and developing countries.15 These individuals strengthen civil society, the private ...
This edited volume is based on presentations made at the international conference “Citizens at He... more This edited volume is based on presentations made at the international conference “Citizens at Heart: Immigrant Integration in a European Perspective”, held at Uppsala University in March 2013. The ...
Exploring Trends in Transnational Practices of Conflict-Generated Migrants : Bosnians in Sweden and Their Activities Towards Bosnia and Herzegovina
Exploring Trends in Transnational Practices of Conflict-Generated Migrants : Bosnians in Sweden a... more Exploring Trends in Transnational Practices of Conflict-Generated Migrants : Bosnians in Sweden and Their Activities Towards Bosnia and Herzegovina
Uploads
Papers by Roland Kostić