Good Fences Make Good Neighbours? A Comparison of Conflict-Regulation Strategies in Postwar Bosnia

Abstract

This article compares the effectiveness of the consociational and the integrative approach in fostering stability in postwar Bosnia. Whereas the ethnic groups in Lijphart’s consociational model constitute the basic units on which the political structure is built, the political structure in Horowitz’s integrative model transcends ethnic divisions. The Dayton Agreement that ended the war in Bosnia contains elements of both approaches, and the balance between them has been changing in the course of its implementation. Bosnia constitutes a very suitable case for a comparison of the effect on stability of the two approaches: elements of each approach can be isolated and their effects compared, and the interplay between the approaches and the effect of international involvement can also be analysed. An international dimension and the phase of (de)escalation of the conflict are variables missing from both approaches, but it is important to include them when analysing a postwar situation. Owing to the deep divisions in the population, the numerical balance between the groups and the maximalist objectives of the dominant parties, the consociational model has been more effective in fostering stability in Bosnia. Currently, a change to an integrative structure seems premature, but a mix of the approaches has been demonstrated to be able to foster moderation.

Influence of the Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the Legal Order of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Terms of Exercising Same Sex Unions

“…Complex constitutional structure is a consequence of Washington and Dayton peace agreements imposed with aim to stop the war (Steiner, 2000;Caspersen, 2004;Papayoanou, 1997;Cox, 1998;Graham, 1998;Schneckener, 2002). As the constitutional division of competencies determines, the jurisdiction for passing the law in the field of marital and family relations rests upon the entities and Brčko District.…”

Can the Concept of Integrative and Segregative Institutions Contribute to the Framing of Institutions of Sustainability?

“…He criticizes the missing incentives for cooperative behavior of the elites in the above model and aims at providing these by an electoral system in which a candidate of an ethnic group must attract votes from another ethnic group for being elected. Caspersen [29] (p. 571) has applied these models to postwar Bosnia. The role of integrative institutions is also analyzed in other publications on ethnic conflict and multiculturalism, for example in a cross-country study by Premdas [30].…”

An Indirect Approach to Map Ethnic Identities in Post-conflict Societies

“…Toal and Dahlman (2011) provide estimates for five municipalities of the Federation, the International Crisis Group (2003, pp. 6-7,15) has estimated the distribution of ethnic identities in Mostar from the entries in the electoral register, Caspersen {, 2004 #5310} relies on indirect proxies from electoral results. They seem to be straightforward, as the political landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina is highly ethnicised.…”