This essay views the various development projects and initiatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning their long-term sustainability. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country which after 23 years of direct involvement of the international community in achieving its sustainable political and economic development still exists as a kind of semi-international protectorate. In addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina's market has never been fully transformed into the western economy concept, where the lack of privatization of the state-owned companies is primarily emphasized. It remains doubtful whether the long-lasting intervention of the international community has delivered the necessary results for any kind of future sustainable development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ever since the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) ended, and even before that, various development cooperation projects launched by numerous countries and by the international community as a whole have been implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They targeted countless fields of country's structure; from attempts to increase its administrative effectiveness, through initiatives for the much-needed changes within the field of enhancement of political accountability and the country's infrastructure and finally, initiating moves to make the country's market more open and competitive. If we try to assess the impacts of all these development projects and initiatives and their expected long-term sustainability, it seems that most of them failed to make any sustainable effect. Unfortunately, there are no accurate numbers showing the total amounts of funds invested in the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but in accordance to some sources, only the World Bank Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 to 2000 invested 2.7 billion Euro in the reconstruction of the country's basic infrastructure.
Table of Contents
1 Introductory Considerations
2 The Lack of a Well-Structured Reconstruction Approach
3 The Lack of a Necessary Active Role of Domestic Authorities
4 Human Rights as Nobody's Responsability
5 Conclusion
Objectives & Core Topics
This assignment evaluates the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of international development assistance provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina since the end of the war in 1995. The central research question examines whether the multi-directional, yet uncoordinated, interventions by the international community have successfully fostered self-sustaining political and economic development, or if they have inadvertently created a state of permanent dependence.
- The impact of post-war international reconstruction efforts and aid-driven economic policies.
- The structural and political challenges stemming from the Dayton Accord and its influence on governance.
- The failure of local authorities to take ownership of institutional reforms and development goals.
- The limitations of external state-building models in addressing local socio-economic realities.
- The persistence of human rights issues and systemic corruption in the post-conflict landscape.
Excerpt from the Book
1 Introductory Considerations
Ever since the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) ended, and even before that, various development cooperation projects launched by numerous countries and by the international community as a whole have been implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, targeting countless fields of country's structure; from attempts to increase its administrative effectiveness, through initiatives for the much needed changes within the field of enhancement of political accountability and the country's infrastructure and finally, initiating moves to make the country's market more open and competitive. If we try to assess the impacts of all these development projects and initiatives and their expected long-term sustainability, it seems that most of them failed to make any sustainable effect.
Unfortunately there are no accurate numbers showing the total amounts of funds invested in the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but in accordance to some sources, only the World Bank Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 to 2000 invested 2.7 billion Euro in the reconstruction of the country's basic infrastructure. One of the facts that probably prevented Bosnia and Herzegovina from establishing the sustainable economy was the absence of foreign direct investments, a problem that lasts even today. Although the foreign trade investments have been made, they were mainly invested in the domestic and not the export production. There are several causes for the low inflow of foreign trade investments in Bosna and Herzegovina e.g.: There are no enough attractive natural resources, the country is stuck in the unfinished privatisation of the state owned companies and, maybe, the most important factor is the political instability and overwhelming bureaucracy which simultaneously presents the main voting body for the currently ruling parties. All these factors have forced the internationally community to inject the capital in order to affect the economic growth towards positive directions that ate the end made Bosnia and Herzegovina an aid driven country.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introductory Considerations: This chapter introduces the context of international aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina post-1995 and highlights the failure of these interventions to generate sustainable economic and political progress.
2 The Lack of a Well-Structured Reconstruction Approach: This chapter analyzes the country's post-war infrastructure and economic decline, arguing that the reliance on external models and the lack of a cohesive reconstruction strategy hampered recovery.
3 The Lack of a Necessary Active Role of Domestic Authorities: This chapter examines the governance structure established by the Dayton Accord and identifies the lack of local authority engagement as a key barrier to effective democratic transition.
4 Human Rights as Nobody's Responsability: This chapter discusses the modest impact of international efforts on human rights, focusing on discrimination, lack of access to justice, and political exclusion.
5 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, concluding that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a state dependent on international assistance with no clear path to long-term sustainability.
Keywords
Bosnia and Herzegovina, International Assistance, Sustainable Development, Post-War Reconstruction, Dayton Accord, Economic Transition, Foreign Direct Investment, Governance, Political Instability, Human Rights, Privatization, Corruption, Administrative Reform, State-Building, Aid Dependency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this assignment?
The assignment fundamentally addresses the efficacy of long-term international development assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina and why such efforts have failed to ensure the country's sustainable progress.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The core themes include the economic reconstruction of post-war Bosnia, the political and administrative implications of the Dayton Accord, the lack of local ownership in institutional reforms, and ongoing human rights challenges.
What is the primary research goal of the work?
The primary goal is to assess whether international aid has created a self-sustaining nation or merely fostered a state of long-term dependency and political stagnation.
Which scientific or research methods were applied?
The work utilizes a qualitative approach, analyzing existing data from donor reports, economic studies, demographic figures, and human rights assessments to evaluate the impact of various international intervention programs.
What core topics are examined in the main body?
The main body investigates the historical failures of economic reconstruction, the systemic inefficiency of the governance structure established by the peace agreement, and the persistent lack of accountability among domestic political actors.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Sustainable Development, International Assistance, Post-War Reconstruction, Governance, and Economic Transition.
How does the author characterize the political system of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The author describes it as an inefficient, complex, and asymmetric system reinforced by the international community, which has contributed to a state of political and economic limbo.
What role does the "Dayton Accord" play in the author's analysis?
The author views the Dayton Accord as a foundational framework that successfully ended the war but created a rigid and inefficient structure that lacks mechanisms for necessary future political and economic reform.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Peđa Đurasović (Autor:in), 2018, Sustainable Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Never Reached Goal?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/505436
