Narratives of Victimhood and Perpetration in Bosnia and Herzegovina
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.
Fields of Study & Subjects
War
Law
and Justice
Balkans: History
Politics
Society
Peacebuilding and International Security
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Monatsschrift für Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform
- Volume
- 109
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 72–81
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Language
- EN