Bosnia, and Its Slippery Slope

Update- 10 January, 2022:
Aljazeera- Protest rallies held in 14 countries to highlight Bosnia’s slide toward conflict.
Balkan Insight- Banned Bosnian Serb Celebration Recalls Memories of Start of War

The US has imposed new sanctions against Republika Srpska political leader Milorad Dodic, along with a few of his associates. The sanctions seem to be more of a token gesture than anything- the new sanctions will likely have very little impact on their targets. As it stands, they may have done more harm than good- they have given Dodic more fodder for his goals of destabilising the country. But such pressure, if followed up, could have far-reaching effects- it could lead to sanctions by EU member nations.  The key to success is to continue putting more pressure on the targets, as well as others associated with them, if any solid outcome is to be achieved. This should be seen as a statement of intent, and not an isolated political move- the already tenuous situation in the Balkans makes action imperative.

One indicator to the path the country is on was highlighted in a recent poll where, in the sample, nearly half of Bosnia’s young people, aged 18-29, have considered leaving the country. Half of those are considering leaving for good. While lack of economic opportunity is reason enough in itself for leaving a country that shows no sign of offering it any time soon, in light of current events, one wonders how much the previous war has on young peoples’ decision making. Of course most of those polled were born at the end, or after the last war, but the memories are recent, and lasting. Denial, and even memorialising genocide and mass murder committed during the war, direct attacks on truth, the revision of history,  and promotion of extreme nationalism alongside lack of possibilities for advancement make a future in Bosnia look bleak. Who can blame the young for looking for opportunity elsewhere?

 

Read more about the sanctions at the Balkan Insight website.

Read more about Bosnia’s exodus at Balkan Insight.