The Bosnian Triangle: Ethnicity, Politics and Citizenship

Abstract:     
This paper aims to analyse contemporary citizenship issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of transition, conflict and identity politics. It tries to contextualize the development of citizenship policies and practices in historical perspective and to assess the current state of affairs. It extends the claim that citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been set within a triangle of social and political relations in which ethnic identity and politics play the other two sides. This triangle - citizenship, ethnic identity and politics - represents key anchor points around which discussions on the Bosnian statehood revolve. The paper also provides a historical overview of citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina in different phases, including a detailed account of the current citizenship regime.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 33

Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, citizenship, ethnicity, conflict, politics

JEL Classification: P30, K10, K19

working papers series