This article, a chapter from the book ‘Yugoslavia and After’ analyses the recent crisis in Bosnia by examining the role of communitarianism. It follows Bosnia from the early centuries of the Ottoman period to the peace processes of 1995, examining communitarian identities, behaviour and crises.
At a ‘crossroads of civilisations’, Bosnia is a country of co-existence and regular internal conflict. Communitarian identity is the principal by which Bosnian society is shaped, with individuals identified as Serb, Croat or Muslim. Political order is similarly structured, with all elections dominated by the national parties, eliminating civic aspirations.
The split within Bosnian society is rooted in the 18th century when divisions between Bosnian Muslims, Orthodox (Serbs) and Catholics (Croats) became increasingly fixed. Bosnian society became structured along communitarian lines, with the churches playing a key cultural and social role. Following the Austro-Hungarian occupation of 1878, the role of the state was rejected and the communitarian structure consolidated, institutionalised further by the introduction of parliament.
- In 1939 the territorial partition of Bosnia was agreed with part of it integrated into Croatia. In 1941 Bosnia was annexed by independent Croatia, resulting in intense conflict and massacre of Serbs by the Croat Utashas, and Muslims by the Serb Chetniks, with internal fragmentation within each community.
- Socialist Yugoslavia was characterised by a reinforcement of national identities and a resurgence of communitarian ways until Tito’s death in 1980. Nationalist sentiments increased within the various republics, again with religious institutions playing a central role. Elections were continually starkly communitarian with the collective presidency comprising the three nationalist parties.
- The electoral system in Bosnia forced the three nationalist parties to create a coalition, which paradoxically led to interethnic tensions between the communities. Power, resources and finally territory throughout the entire Bosnian state was divided up during 1990-1. With the break-up of Yugoslavia the Serbian and Croat populations declared their own autonomous regions.
- The civil war broke out in April 1992. Ethnic cleansing by the Serb Army and the Croatian Defence Council aimed to remove all obstacles to extreme communitarianism and nationalism. It was accompanied by the pillage of civilian populations by the military and the chopping up of territories, leading to the disintegration of the communities. This internal crisis within the communities continued and indeed worsened, despite attempts at peace processes.
The policy relevant implications of this document are:
- During the period 1992-1995, the various military offensives affected the conflict in most part by the crises and political regroupings they provoked. The territorial collapse of Serbia and the Serb Republic was undoubtedly amplified by the political makeup of the conflict and relations between and within Serb communities.
- The peace plan simply added another layer to the multiple concurrent sovereignties of Bosnia. As such it is likely to be difficult to implement, perhaps resulting in the creation of homogenous and separate ministries.
- While the peace plans represent an important stage in the Bosnian conflict, they do not guarantee a durable cessation of hostilities. They are more likely to lead to a definitive dismantling of Bosnian society than lead to its progressive reintegration.
