Human Rights as a Mechanism for Integration in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Human Rights as a Mechanism for Integration in Bosnia-Herzegovina HUGO STOKKE* 1. Introduction This paper seeks to address if and how human rights can be a mechanism for inte- gration in multiethnic states with a particular focus on the Republic of Bosnia- Herzegovina. These states are frequently characterised by marked divisions along ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural lines. Most states are of a unitary kind with a well-defined centre in which the major political and economic powers are concen- trated. However, in non-unitary systems these powers are dispersed among several sub-centres where powers are split between them and the centre.