The Igman Initiative
The Igman Initiative

Author(s): Živorad Kovačević
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Civil Society, International relations/trade, Geopolitics
Published by: Centar za regionalizam
Keywords: The Igman Initiative; NGO; Dayton Triangle; regional cooperation
Summary/Abstract: The Igman Initiative is a joint permanent project of over one-hundred nongovernmental organizations from the countries of the so-called Dayton Triangle (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which, after a referendum in Montenegro in 2006, was dissolved into the independent states of Serbia and Montenegro, transforming the triangle into a square). The Igman Initiative was created from the bottom up and achieved a regional ownership of its projects. From the very beginning, it had clear objectives that remained unchanged in the course of a few subsequent years: overcoming the consequences of war and encouraging any form of cooperation among various actors and across communities, cities, regions, and countries. These goals also reflected aspirations towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The acceptance of the authority of the Igman Initiative was made easier by its manifestation as a joint project—a process—rather than a centralized, formalized NGO. The flexible structure of this form necessitated respect and equality among all members, who ultimately shared a common vision. Through its activities, the Igman Initiative established a great reputation among the public in the region and attracted the desired media attention. The reputation of the Igman Initiative was also built to a great extent through the active participation of prominent public figures (heads of states among others) from the three, and later four, countries of the region.

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