Who is Bosnian? : Ethnic Division in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Implications for a National Identity

Abstract: This study deals with ethnic division in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its implications for a Bosnian collective national identity, in contrast to the ethnic identity of Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. The 1995 Dayton Agreement paves the way for a Bosnian state where a collective national identity is based on the state’s structure and institutions. However, almost 25 years after the war, there are many challenges facing the creation of such an identity, and Bosnians are struggling to unite. The study investigates the formal and non-formal ways ethnic division is upheld, and how the division makes it difficult to agree on a collective identity. After examining the content of the Dayton Agreement, the study uses Abdelal et al.’s framework to explore examples of ethnic divisions in everyday life. The findings show that the Dayton Agreement formally institutionalizes ethnic divisions that are further enforced by politicians who use their autonomy to promote ethnic identities for their respective groups, which stand in conflict with a collective identity for all Bosnians.