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Abstract
International attempts to build a sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina have come close to the recommendations of Roland Paris’ conceptual framework of ‘Institutionalisation before Liberalisation’. The international peace mission in Bosnia has, through this approach, largely succeeded in dampening the dangers posed by the democratization process. This is clearly indicated by progress in stabilizing the civil peace and in democratization. However, this study of international policy highlights that, while the general policy approach of the ‘Institutionalisation before Liberalisation’ framework is a sound one, it is important to caution that care must be taken to avoid negative and unintended consequences.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank the German Academic Exchange Service for its support of his research in Bosnia and Herzegovina from March to June 2005.
Notes
1. Author interview, Mostar, 19 April 2005.
2. Data compiled using the information on the High Representative's decisions at the website of the OHR (http://www.ohr.int/decisions/archive.asp). I do not count the High Representative's decision on 23 March 2007 to nullify the appointment of the Federation's government by the entity's House of Representative as dismissals.
3. Author interview with Aleksandra Babić, National Political Officer, European Union Police Mission – State Border Service, Banja Luka, 14 April 2005 and interview with Dragan Jerini, chief editor of the daily Nezavisne novine, Banja Luka, 14 April 2005.
4. The Dayton institutions’ relevance was also enhanced by the increased acceptance of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Croatia after Franjo Tudman's death and by Serbia after Slobodan Milošević's removal from power. Another important factor was the common desire of Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats to join the European Union. According to opinion polls in 2004 and 2005, over 80 per cent of each ethnic grouping would vote for EU membership if there was a referendum. The only way to European association and integration is through the common state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
5. ‘It is rather obvious that the SDS and HDZ... feel that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a fact’, said Beriz Belkić (Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina [SBiH]), a former member of the state Presidency (author interview, Sarajevo, 25 May 2005). Mirsad Ćeman, member of the state-level House of Representatives, stated: ‘I am a member of the SDA and have to say that HDZ, SDS, and the other Serb parties increasingly consider Bosnia and Herzegovina as their country’ (author interview, Sarajevo, 3 June 2005). Josip Merdzo (HDZ) stressed: ‘Is it not a question for us whether this is a state or whether it should be disassembled’ (author interview, Mostar, 18 April 2005). While Borislav Bojić, head of the SDS group in the parliament of Republika Srpska, said that his party builds on Bosnia-Herzegovina and Igor Radojicić, secretary-general of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) underlined: ‘You will not find any serious party, if any party at all, that is supporting now the idea of dissolving the country’ (both interviews, Banja Luka, 14 April 2005). Seada Palavrić, president of the SDA group in the state-level House of Representatives, said: ‘It seems to me they understood that there is no choice over the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is one state’ (interview, Sarajevo, 29 April 2005).
6. Author interview with Dragan Mikerervić, former Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Doboj, 9 April 2005.
7. Most elections results are available from the website of the Bosnia and Herzegovina election commission (http://www.izbori.ba/eng/default.asp).
8. Author interview with Borislav Bojić, Banja Luka, 14 April 2005.
9. Author interview with Gojko Berić, columnist for Oslobodenje, Sarajevo, 5 April 2005.
10. Author interview with Lamija Tanović, Liberal Democratic Party, Sarajevo, 5 April 2005.
11. Author interview Sarajevo, 12 May 2005.
12. Author interview with Tanja Topić, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Banja Luka, 13 April 2005.
13. Available from the Reporters without Borders website (www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19388).
14. According to Davor Vuletić, member of the Social Democratic Party's main board, back in 1996, activists of his party, even in relatively tolerant Sarajevo, needed to carry arms for self-defence when they went in small groups to paste up election posters (author interview, Sarajevo, 20 April 2005).
15. Author interview with Muhamed Braco Dzemidzić, executive director of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, 13 May 2005.