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Narratives of Victimhood and Perpetration in Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Olivera Simic
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 13. Januar 2026

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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Online erschienen: 2026-01-13
Erschienen im Druck: 2026-01-14

© 2026 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Heruntergeladen am 23.1.2026 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/mks-2025-0038/html
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