Christophe Solioz Knihy

Bosnia and Herzegovina was the focus of a massive intervention from abroad as is inevitable with a quasi protectorate as well as a host of strategies of multiple importation. At stake were the countrys territorial integrity and the recognition of its sovereignty, not only on a regional and international level, but primarily within the country itself. After eight years of international presence, Bosnia and Herzegovina is still an aid-dependent country, and most aspects of social, political and economic life are now matters of the international protectorate-type intervention. In order to overcome this situation, foreign involvement must address Bosnian self-government and ownership with an adequate strategy, because the future of this country lies in its capacity to adapt the transition and democratization processes, the central aims being the restoration of the state and the reinforcement of its institutions. Ownership Process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Contributions on the International Dimensions of Democratization in the Balkans includes contributions from Wolfgang Petritsch, Sejfudin Tokic, Matthias Sonn, Christophe Solioz, Zarko Papic, Dragoljub Stojanov, Vladimir Velebit, Rajko Macura, Ermin Sinanovic, Srdjan Dizdarevic.

Thinking the Balkans out of the Box moves away from narrow and conventional, often state-centred, understandings of European integration and regional cooperation in relation to South East Europe. Based on case studies, this book presents both common and specific features of integration and region-building within the framework of “early”, “old”, “new” and “comparative regionalism” approaches, which the author sees as complementary rather than mutually exclusive. Using a long-term timeline, the author contextualises these four waves in the post-Second World War era, the Cold War period, the post-Cold War era, and our current hypertext or multiplex world order respectively. In the latter, integration and regionalisation become significantly more intertwined, heterogeneous, open, inclusive, comprehensive and multidimensional.

The tenth anniversary of the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement in December 2005 serves as a crucial moment for reflecting on its successes and failures, as well as the future challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community. This book discusses key trends, focusing on three critical issues: democratization and transition processes, country ownership, and potential turning points. It approaches these topics with constructive criticism, concluding that both the EU and Bosnia must embrace their roles and responsibilities. As the Dayton decade concludes, the next chapter in Bosnia’s history should be a European one, beginning now. Christophe Solioz, an expert with over a decade of involvement in the Balkans, reviews significant moments in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s post-war development. He emphasizes the complexity of the ownership process and the need to promote local responsibility, concentrating on state-building and European integration that must evolve organically rather than through imposed measures. The book not only assesses the current Bosnian reality but also proposes viable solutions to ongoing challenges, suggesting that implementing these solutions could propel Bosnia forward.

The tenth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement in December 2005 provides a unique occasion to review its achievements and shortcomings, as well as future challenges to be faced both by the international community and Bosnia and Herzegovina itself. The country has received huge amounts of attention and inquiry; this book outlines some basic trends, focusing on three essential issues: democratisation and transitions processes, country owner-ship, and potential turning points. These issues are addressed in a non-dogmatic way in the spirit of constructive criticism. The conclusion is that both the EU and Bosnia must take their opportunities and responsibilities now.

Bosnische und internationale Experten befassen sich mit der Zukunft Bosniens in den Themenbereichen Verfassungsreform, Wirtschaftspolitik, Kultur und Bildung. Eine kritisch-provokante Einleitung fragt, ob das Abkommen von Dayton darin gescheitert ist, stabile Institutionen zu schaffen, welche den Herausforderungen der euro-atlantischen Integration gewachsen sind. Zu den wichtigsten Themen, die hier angesprochen werden, gehören die Frage nach dem Primat von Gruppenrechten, der konstitutive Charakter der drei ethnischen Gruppen in allen Landesteilen, Kultur und Bildung als Faktoren der Teilung anstatt Einigung, und die katastrophale wirtschaftliche Situation, welche auf ein Politikversagen zurückgeht. Das Buch zeichnet ein differenziertes Bild einer komplexen Situation und wird für alle jene nützlich sein, die sich für Bosniens dreifache Transition interessieren: vom Krieg zum Frieden, vom Einparteienstaat zur liberalen Demokratie, und von der Plan- zur Marktwirtschaft. Das Buch bietet eine Momentaufnahme der Situation in einem spezifischen Land, weist aber auch auf die Notwendigkeit einer Strategie der "Ownership’ hin, die für andere Friedensmissionen relevant ist.