What question did this study set out to answer?

The essay explores the intertwining narratives of victimhood and perpetration in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

January 14, 2026

Narratives of Victimhood and Perpetration in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Key Points

The essay explores the intertwining narratives of victimhood and perpetration in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Reflections from visits to Banja Luka, the administrative centre of Republika Srpska.
Analysis of the societal implications of these narratives on ethnic groups.
Examination of transitional justice processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Narratives of victimhood and perpetration contribute to deeper polarisation among ethnic groups.
The societal divide is noted to be deeper than since the end of armed conflict in 1995.

Abstract

Abstract Two narratives – of victimhood and perpetration – in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) go hand in hand. They overlap, blend, intertwine, and, as I will argue, deepen polarisation among and between the main ethnic groups, rather than help bridge the societal divide, which appears to be deeper than ever since the end of the armed conflict in 1995. In this essay, I will reflect on what I saw, felt, and heard during my regular visits to Banja Luka, my hometown and the administrative centre of Republika Srpska, Bih. I will use my latest visit as a backdrop to tell the broader story of fragile transitional justice processes in BiH, and beyond.

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