№07 Outline for a Common Western Policy Pivot on BiH.
№07 Outline for a Common Western Policy Pivot on BiH.

Author(s): Kurt Bassuener, Bodo Weber
Subject(s): Politics, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Inter-Ethnic Relations, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: DPC Democratization Policy Council e.V.
Keywords: BiH; social unrest; protests; Tuzla; FBiH; political accountability; western policy; EU; Germany; dialogue; Zagreb; Croat question; America;
Summary/Abstract: Recent popular unrest and protest in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), driven by a lack of political accountability and a dire socio-economic reality, caught all established interests – including the political elite and international actors – off-guard. While the initial instances of violence have thankfully not been repeated, the full political spectrum raced to deflect popular opprobrium by kindling ethnic fear, or harness it politically. The situation remains volatile. Even if the protest movement dissipates, the deep social frustrations that underlie it will continue to simmer and eventually find another outlet – with the potential for violence which could be diverted ethnically. The EU, which has steered the international approach toward BiH since 2005, has yet to develop a credible reaction. The European Commission’s proposal for more “Structured Dialogues” on a wider range of topics will just pile new failure upon a three-year history of counterproductive policy. Croatia’s still-underdeveloped policy proposals would combine the EC’s false hope in “pre-screening” with a co-optation of EU policy by an ethnically skewed Croat-centric focus.

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