Elvin
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Great thread! For some of the members on this forum that are not familiar with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) or simply Bosnia here is a quick intro.
Bosnia is a multi-ethnic nation with three constituent peoples. The Bosniaks (50%) Bosnian Serbs (32%) Bosnian Croats (14%) Others (4-5%). It is made up of two political entities, the Federation of BIH (Bosniak-Croat joint Entity) and the Republika Srpska (serb region with 84% Serb population and 13% Bosniak). In the FBIH, 73% of the population is Bosniak and they primarily dominate this entity in many areas, the Croats are seeing a massive demographic decline, and many are moving out of BIH at an alarming rate. The Bosnian Croats want their own entity (similar to what serbs have), but the Bosniaks won't allow it and will veto any such attempt because it goes against the peace agreement and the constitution. With time, the FBIH entity will simply be a Bosniak entity. Additionally, there is the District of Brcko, a small enclave in northern Bosnia which separates Republika Srpka into two areas (this is strategically important in case of any future conflicts).
Everything in the country is done based on consensus among the three constituent peoples. This means, that if any side tries to do something that would violate the other's "national interest" then the other constituent peoples have the option to veto it. Therefore, the direct influence of Belgrade and or Zagreb is limited, because it would simply be vetoed by Bosniaks and or Serbs/Croats (vice vers). However, Serbian and Croatian soft power is influential. The three constituent peoples do agree on many common things, and things are moving forward but at a slower rate than in other countries.
With this being said, Bosnia is currently making efforts to join the EU (all three peoples are working together towards this goal), and it is making efforts to join NATO (Bosnia is official in the MAP process), however Bosnian Serbs are against this. Nonetheless, Bosnia did achieve the MAP process and it has carried out numerous reforms in the military (which is joint). Today, Bosnian soldiers are deployed from Africa to Afghanistan, partake in numerous exercises with NATO countries, etc.
At the end of the day, the shooting stopped in 1995, but the silent war continues. Bosniaks have achieved a lot, but it is very difficult when your squeezed between Croatia and Serbia, both of whom have their people living in Bosnia in large numbers. Sometimes, I can't believe that Bosnia even survived. Not bad for 2 million Bosniaks. The ultimate goal was to preserve the Bosnian nation, which was achieved and now we are using the tactic of time to simply become the absolute majority and or take advantage of opportunities to further integrate the nation.
I want to point out, there are over 2,000 different ethnic groups on this planet and only roughly 200 countries. Bosniaks managed to achieve their motherland, even though injured, it survived the rest is time.
The serb region in Bosnia has local autonomy, however they have no passports, money, armed forces, border police, etc. All of that is conducted by Bosnian state institutions where Bosniaks typically hold key positions along with Serbs and Croats and this is the level where strategic politics have to be played and strategic consensus has to be established. Ultimately Bosnia is moving forward slowly but surely.
Bosnia is a multi-ethnic nation with three constituent peoples. The Bosniaks (50%) Bosnian Serbs (32%) Bosnian Croats (14%) Others (4-5%). It is made up of two political entities, the Federation of BIH (Bosniak-Croat joint Entity) and the Republika Srpska (serb region with 84% Serb population and 13% Bosniak). In the FBIH, 73% of the population is Bosniak and they primarily dominate this entity in many areas, the Croats are seeing a massive demographic decline, and many are moving out of BIH at an alarming rate. The Bosnian Croats want their own entity (similar to what serbs have), but the Bosniaks won't allow it and will veto any such attempt because it goes against the peace agreement and the constitution. With time, the FBIH entity will simply be a Bosniak entity. Additionally, there is the District of Brcko, a small enclave in northern Bosnia which separates Republika Srpka into two areas (this is strategically important in case of any future conflicts).
Everything in the country is done based on consensus among the three constituent peoples. This means, that if any side tries to do something that would violate the other's "national interest" then the other constituent peoples have the option to veto it. Therefore, the direct influence of Belgrade and or Zagreb is limited, because it would simply be vetoed by Bosniaks and or Serbs/Croats (vice vers). However, Serbian and Croatian soft power is influential. The three constituent peoples do agree on many common things, and things are moving forward but at a slower rate than in other countries.
With this being said, Bosnia is currently making efforts to join the EU (all three peoples are working together towards this goal), and it is making efforts to join NATO (Bosnia is official in the MAP process), however Bosnian Serbs are against this. Nonetheless, Bosnia did achieve the MAP process and it has carried out numerous reforms in the military (which is joint). Today, Bosnian soldiers are deployed from Africa to Afghanistan, partake in numerous exercises with NATO countries, etc.
At the end of the day, the shooting stopped in 1995, but the silent war continues. Bosniaks have achieved a lot, but it is very difficult when your squeezed between Croatia and Serbia, both of whom have their people living in Bosnia in large numbers. Sometimes, I can't believe that Bosnia even survived. Not bad for 2 million Bosniaks. The ultimate goal was to preserve the Bosnian nation, which was achieved and now we are using the tactic of time to simply become the absolute majority and or take advantage of opportunities to further integrate the nation.
I want to point out, there are over 2,000 different ethnic groups on this planet and only roughly 200 countries. Bosniaks managed to achieve their motherland, even though injured, it survived the rest is time.
The serb region in Bosnia has local autonomy, however they have no passports, money, armed forces, border police, etc. All of that is conducted by Bosnian state institutions where Bosniaks typically hold key positions along with Serbs and Croats and this is the level where strategic politics have to be played and strategic consensus has to be established. Ultimately Bosnia is moving forward slowly but surely.
