Bosnia

People's Peacemaking Perspectives

This briefing looks at young people's perspectives of peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Young people (age 16–30), who make up more than 20 percent of the population, have grown up in a deeply divided society recovering from conflict and one where ethnicity is exploited for political ends, stifling meaningful reconciliation.

Yet this generation does not carry the same trauma of conflict as its predecessor. Our research shows that many young people are willing to question prejudices and stereotypes prevalent in wider society and eager to break with the past. Yet the obstacles to this are huge, holding back this potential force for positive change. Understanding these obstacles, as well as youth attitudes to ethnicity and their concerns and aspirations is vital to encouraging their role in building Bosnia’s future resilience to conflict.

This policy brief is based on a wider research report 'Leaving the past behind' which draws heavily on the contributions and views of young people in BiH between April and September 2011. Group discussions with youth and interviews with key informants were carried out in ten locations across BiH, involving participants from a range of social and geographical backgrounds. Additional research was carried out by young people drawn from the group discussions.

Download the policy brief or click here to read the full report

This research is part of the EU-Funded the 'People's Peacemaking Perspectives' project

“We have to erase the thinking that ‘we, youth, can’t do anything’.”

Young Bosniak woman, Sarajevo