Abstract:
The dissertation evaluates the effectiveness of the European Union as an actor of peace in
post-conflict Bosnia Herzegovina. While doing that it discusses the use of
democratization as a form of peacebuilding in a post-conflict society. The EU
membership perspective that has been a tool of EU’s soft power that transforms aspirant
countries into working liberal democracies surprisingly underlines the divisions of the
Bosnian society. Reforms necessary for the EU integration fail over disagreements
between the constituent nations of Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks on the notions of the state
and its functions as well as the character of the society that it is supposed to serve.
Dissertation argues that without the advent of the political subject by itself it is not
possible to talk about civic politics. Manufacturing the political will for conflict
transformation and democratic transition would just postpone the imminent political
catastrophe in Bosnia Herzegovina. Instead the European Union should assume the role
of a moderator and be honest about the EU membership prospect of the Western Balkan
countries. When a post-conflict society like that of Bosnia Herzegovina is locked in a
constant paradox between the dream of EU membership and the reality of ethnic
fragmentation, efforts for peacebuilding and democratization requires honesty.
