New DPC briefing on Bosnia
admin November 7th, 2008
DPC released a new Bosnia briefing today written by Senior Associates Kurt Bassuener, James Lyon and Eric Witte. The briefing, “Sliding toward the Precipice: Europe’s Bosnia Policy,” argues that Bosnia is backsliding. The authors call on European foreign and defense ministers meeting on Monday to act now to re-establish deterrance of potential conflict. Further, they should elevate meaningful constitutional reform in Bosnia to a major priority in order to end the need for robust international intervention:
Bosnia’s political system may be democratic on the surface, but it functions like a cartel. No party is happy with the current order: all have maximalist projects they wish to pursue, given the opportunity, yet all recognize the threat to their political and economic perquisites if they allow establishment of a system that encourages competition for political middle ground rather than ethnic fiefdoms. Indeed, there are ample indications that a country-wide will exists to create a political centre capable of tackling universally recognized social and economic problems, and in so doing, making Bosnia ready for EU membership. Yet the Dayton system generates leaders who are unwilling to address Bosnians’ most pressing concerns.
