> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bosnia, and vanishing European leadership - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/bosnia-and-vanishing-european-leadership/ - Published: 2014-02-25T14:02:30.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-22T07:56:40.000Z - Description: Bosnian citizens' protest against corruption and misgovernance also reveals the deep flaws of the country's ethno-nationalist system. But where is Europe? - Author: Goran Fejic - Tags: #Migrated, #appended-excerpt, Conflict & security, Europe, Politics & activism, democracy & power, future of europe, Spotlight on Bosnia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democracy and government, Civil Society, conflict, International politics, reimagining yugoslavia, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 14:50 After an episode of rioting, the despair of Bosnian citizens is moving towards more articulate forms of political action. People are gathering in the streets of Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar and other cities: not to riot, but reportedly self-organising in forums or “plenums” ito discuss and propose political-social demands. They [want](http://www.dw.de/bosnia-protests-to-continue/g-17429490?ref=opendemocracy.net), for example, the expulsion of corrupt politicians, the replacement of party-based local governments by authorities with technical and professional expertise, the revision of opaque and fishy privatisations of public property. The [gatherings](http://www.bosnia.org.uk/news/news%5Fbody.cfm?newsid=2892&ref=opendemocracy.net) are peaceful and “in the best tradition of direct democracy”, as observed by Srećko Horvat (see "[Godot arrives in Sarajevo](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/opinion/godot-arrives-in-sarajevo.html?ref=opendemocracy.net)", *New York Times*, 18 February 2014). Most conspicuously, none of these “plenums” is based on ethnic or religious kinship. And most importantly, none of the grievances is expressed and none of the proposals made on behalf or against any of the Bosnian “constituent nationalities”. People are not flagging their ethnic identities; they are simply [saying](http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21596572-latest-troubles-bosnia-may-wake-up-countrys-inept-leaders-fire?ref=opendemocracy.net) that they are sick and tired, that they want change. As citizens. Period! The novelty is of paramount importance: for Bosnia, for the entire former Yugoslav space, and for the European Union itself if it wants to reverse its declining credibility curve in the region (which is by no means clear from its actions, or rather inactions). Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign-policy [chief](http://eeas.europa.eu/ashton/index%5Fen.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), has called on Bosnian politicians to “show leadership” and take steps to “resolve not only the economic issues of concern, but also the political situation”. This is a well-intentioned but quite unrealistic [message](http://www.thebosniatimes.com/en/exclusive-catherine-ashton-stefan-fule-coming-sarajevo/?ref=opendemocracy.net), and with her fine knowledge of the region, Ms Ashton is, no doubt, well aware of that. The current “leadership” of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not likely to cut the very branch on which it sits by initiating reforms that would bring to the Bosnian state any semblance of the viability it so needs. This “leadership” [feeds](http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/war-on-the-bosnian-protests?ref=opendemocracy.net) on the alleged cast-in-stone ability and willingness of Bosnians to act only as Muslims, Serbs or Croats. It has grown as a hydra whose multiple heads in villages, cities, cantons and the so-called “entities” survive only by [spitting](http://www.rferl.org/content/bosnia-by-the-numbers/25262916.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) around the poison of ethnic nationalism; by blocking any serious work on reconciliation; and by vetoing whatever is proposed by the adversary (who is always perceived as ethnic, and always [attempting](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/opinion/sunday/stray-dogs-and-stateless-babies.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) to impose “their” ethnic interest against “our” supposed ethnic interest.) Don’t take this critique as inspired by daydreaming. I am speaking about a [country](https://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/bosnia%5Fpol%5F2002.jpg?ref=opendemocracy.net) in which mixed marriages, mixed families and mixed neighbourhoods were a very common occurrence - I admit, until the 1990s. But it is also a country where new generations have grown up [since](https://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-yugoslavia/article%5F217.jsp) the wars of that decade, and they obviously don’t buy any longer the ethno-nationalistic discourse. Young urban Bosnians are no doubt simultaneously the most “yugo-nostalgic” and the most pro-European youth in all countries of the former Yugoslavia. The ethno-nationalistic hydra would probably have perished long ago had it not had the chance to [draw](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/world/europe/roots-of-bosnian-protests-lie-in-peace-accords-of-1995.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) its strength and, in a way, its international legitimacy from the current Bosnian [constitution](http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/bk00000%5F.html?ref=opendemocracy.net). An awkward constitution indeed, rather unique in its kind in today’s world of celebrated “participatory and inclusive” constitution-building. It was hammered out in 1995 under heavy American pressure, at a meeting of ethno-nationalist warlords, held in a secluded United States air-force base, and attached, as an annex, to the Dayton peace agreements. Slobodan Milošević, an [indicted](https://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-yugoslavia/responsibility%5F3361.jsp) war criminal, and Franjo Tudjman, his [partner](http://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511790584&cid=CBO9780511790584A016&ref=opendemocracy.net) in the attempted partition of Bosnia & Herzegovina (regrettably not indicted), were among the international [guarantors](https://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-yugoslavia/dayton%5F3047.jsp) of the said agreements. The level of “national ownership” of the constitution of Bosnia & Herzegovina is further illustrated by the fact that its translation into the local language (whatever its name - Serbian, Croatian or Bosnian) was made available only fifteen years after its coming into force! The first translation was reportedly provided by - of all people! - Milorad Dodik, the seemingly undebunkable [leader](http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region.php?yyyy=2014&mm=02&dd=24&nav%5Fid=89423&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the Serb-Bosnian “entity” (and something undertaken, naturally, only out of his vested interest, as it officialises the said “entity”). While no one can seriously deny the [contribution](http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/2014/02/10/bosnias-protests-made-in-dayton/?ref=opendemocracy.net) of the Dayton agreements to the ending of the devastating [war](http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/07/21/idUSL21644464?ref=opendemocracy.net) in Bosnia in 1995, is has been argued repeatedly and with equally convincing arguments, that the Dayton agreements - and the constitution attached to them - have [brought](https://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-yugoslavia/dayton%5F3061.jsp) about an institutional and legal system that is highly divisive, ineffective, extremely expensive, intrinsically undemocratic and ultimately non-viable. For almost two decades, the EU has been tolerating and half-heartedly [supporting](https://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-europe%5Fconstitution/serbia%5F2585.jsp) that system, hoping that time will heal the wounds of war and calm the ethno-nationalistic rage, while the sticks-and-carrots of the EU "enlargement" [strategy](http://www.cepolicy.org/publications/eus-role-western-balkans-after-croatian-accession?ref=opendemocracy.net) gradually delegitimises the [incongruous](http://wider.unu.edu/publications/working-papers/2013/en%5FGB/wp2013-089/?ref=opendemocracy.net) Dayton-based governance settings and entices reforms. That hope has not materialised. The passing of time has only allowed the Dayton-based parasitic rulers (large and small) to [develop](https://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-yugoslavia/bosnia%5Felections%5F3959.jsp) stronger roots and forge alliances in the region, beyond Bosnia’s borders; while the EU, in the midst of its own crisis and overwhelmed by “enlargement fatigue”, has [lost](http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/events/events/2013/131126---Future-of-EU-Enlagement.aspx?ref=opendemocracy.net) its stick and keeps holding its carrot high, out of reach for Bosnia as it is today. In the meantime, the hardship endured by people in [all](http://www.freeworldmaps.net/europe/bosnia/political.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) Bosnian “ethnic entities” - above all due to unemployment and corruption - has continued to grow and became unbearable. The cooker has now [exploded](http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/blog/is-change-coming-finally-thoughts-on-the-bosnian-protests?ref=opendemocracy.net). It happened, obviously, at the least appropriate moment from the perspective of the ever-smiling [members](http://www.delbih.ec.europa.eu/Default.aspx?id=0&lang=EN&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the European council (those who look so happy and self-confident on their recurrent collective photos against the starred blue backdrop). After all, Brussels just doesn’t [need](http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/detailed-country-information/bosnia-herzegovina/index%5Fen.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) Bosnia now. Not on top of [Ukraine](https://www.opendemocracy.net/carmen-claud%C3%ADn/why-does-putin-fear-maidan), on top of its own crumbling image, and on top of the seemingly unstoppable euroscepticism in its own member-states. As to the Balkans, the European Union has has just emerged from a terribly laborious effort to [concoct](http://eeas.europa.eu/top%5Fstories/2013/190413%5F%5Feu-facilitated%5Fdialogue%5Fen.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) some sort of agreement between Serbia and Kosovo - an agreement whose main virtue seems to be that it is interpretable as “normalisation of relationship without official recognition” (of Kosovo by Serbia), thus keeping Serbia's populist government happy while allowing for the official opening of talks on the country's EU accession. The still [fragile](http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/2013/04/25/the-kosovo-serbia-agreement-political-breakthrough-or-jobs-for-the-boys/?ref=opendemocracy.net) foundations of the accord (details remain vague, particularly in the judicial area), and the approach of Serbia’s parliamentary elections (scheduled for 16 March), ensure that the EU at present will do nothing to irritate Serbia. After all, Serbia is the most determined [supporter](http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2013&mm=12&dd=20&nav%5Fid=88734&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the Dayton agreements and the unfaltering patron and sponsor of the “Republika Srpska”. Hence the meek appeal to current Bosnian politicians “to show leadership”. The appeal’s tone of tired annoyance cannot be dissimulated and the message will hardly convince anyone. I bet Catherine Ashton herself would be most surprised if the Bosnian politicians responded in any meaningful way. But the real issue is not the lack of leadership of Bosnian [politicians](http://www.europeanforum.net/country/bosnia%5Fherzegovina?ref=opendemocracy.net). Anyone knowing them would rather ask them to [refrain](https://www.opendemocracy.net/balkan%5Fstrongmen%5Fexit%5Ffrom%5Fhistory) from any leadership. The real issue - and the most disheartening - is the total lack of leadership in Europe itself. Who in today’s Europe can rise in defence of Bosnian citizens in the streets, of this truly anti-nationalistic citizens’ movement, of those rare individuals who still believe in the principles that Europe [itself](https://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-yugoslavia/article%5F1123.jsp) has, it seems, long forgotten? **Open the doors** This is where there is no other option than to dream: \* To dream about the EU supporting the people’s forums and plenums in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar and other Bosnian cities while cutting support to the corrupt ethno-nationalist bureaucrats \* To dream about those movements growing and acquiring with such EU support, a sufficient level of organisation and strength to unite and become a new constituent power in Bosnia & Herzegovina \* To dream about a new constituent assembly/process being set up with delegates from the entire country regardless of their ethnic origin, allegiance or “entity” of residence. Now, making that aspiration come true would indeed be a long [process](http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bosnian-parliamentarians-discuss-constitution-amendments?ref=opendemocracy.net) and it could provoke some new tensions in the Balkans. As in any serious overhaul, some turbulence and disorder may have to be confronted before a better and more democratic order sets in. But is short-term stability the only remaining European ideal? It is worth recalling some basics in contemporary democracy-building, which are consistently [advocated](https://www.opendemocracy.net/article/idea/the-future-of-democracy-support) by the “international community” itself when it seeks to support “countries in transition” (see, for example the “constitution-building programme of [International IDEA](http://www.idea.int/?ref=opendemocracy.net) in Stockholm): \* Good constitutions take time to grow (the South African one took six years!); \* They cannot be pre-cooked and imposed from abroad \* The process by which they are brought about is as important as their content \* Inclusive participation is a must, as well as equality of language (in terms of gender, ethnicity, and religion, for example). Yes, “post-conflict” constitution-making is a major challenge for obvious reasons: you make peace with warlords while you build a constitution with citizens. Phasing-out the former and bringing-in the latter is difficult and time-consuming. But almost two decades have elapsed since the Dayton agreements. Isn’t it time? Bosnian citizens' protest against corruption and misgovernance also reveals the deep flaws of the country's ethno-nationalist system. But where is Europe?