Local Perspectives on Reconciliation in the Western Balkans

Definitions of ‘reconciliation’ in conflict-affected societies are contested, with limited consensus on what it means among academics, politicians, practitioners and in everyday usage. A useful response is to accept reconciliation as inevitably contested and to study how actors in different places understand the term (Mitchell, 2023). There is limited scholarship, however, that explores ordinary citizens’ perceptions and interpretations of reconciliation, including in relation to the Western Balkans. This rapid review presents key findings from the limited evidence base on local interpretations of reconciliation in the region. It draws primarily from academic articles and donor reports, with much of the available literature centring on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).