The U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina—Ties that Do (not) Break?
The U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina—Ties that Do (not) Break?
The U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina—Ties that Do (not) Break?
Chapter written by Vedran Dzihic in: The United States and the Future of Europe,Springer 2025
Editors: Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, Paul Schmidt
Abstract
The U.S. played a crucial role in stopping bloodshed and war in 1995. However, the subsequent U.S.-designed Dayton Constitution failed to reunite the country. The different constitutive people in Bosnia and Herzegovina—Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats—even today engage in deep political infights. They also disagree on how they view the U.S.’s engagement in the country. While the U.S. keeps criticising secessionist forces in the country, both the U.S. and the EU remain somewhat reactive when it comes to major trends in Bosnia. In order to contribute to a more democratic, secure and European Bosnia, the U.S. and EU must engage closely in coordinating their policies and start implementing a more robust, proactive and future-oriented plan for the country.