Bosnia 2000

Abstract

The Dayton Peace Agreement was intended to signify a break with the usual pattern of Balkan history, where war begets war. In the aftermath of the Bosnian war, a massive international effort was launched involving billions of dollars and thousands of soldiers, administrators, aid workers, and diplomats. The aim was to supplant militant ethnic nationalism with pluralism and economic liberalism. Bosnia was not just to be rebuilt; it was to be re-created transformed into a stable, prosperous democratic society. Nearly five years after the Dayton Peace Agreement, much has been accomplished in this odd demi-protectorate of the international community. The military side of the effort has been a resounding success, having achieved all of its major goals. The guns are silent, the respective local armed forces are corralled back at their bases, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been demobilized. The civilian effort, loosely coordinated by the international Office of the High Representative (OHR), has proved a much more arduous task, although the list of achievements is significant. State institutions at all levels have been created from a tripartite presidency and joint parliament on down to local civic councils. A new national currency, a new flag, and even a Bosnian state seal and anthem are in place. Several internationally monitored elections have been held. Only last summer, over 30 world leaders attended the Stability Pact Summit in Sarajevo, providing further proof of how far things have come. Symbolically, it was held in a stadium outside the city that had once been completely decimated by cannon fire and was now rebuilt.