Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.59245/ps.35.2.3

Citizens’ Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Security in Sarajevo Canton

Armin Kržalić orcid.org/0000-0003-0378-3672 ; University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Muhamed Budimlić ; University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Elmedin Muratbegović ; University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sandra Kobajica Mišanović orcid.org/0000-0002-7373-3200 ; University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions and attitudes of citizens in Sarajevo Canton regarding security, with particular emphasis on the factors shaping the subjective sense of (in)security. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, primarily focused on quantitative analysis of survey data collected from a representative sample of Sarajevo Canton residents, complemented by limited qualitative insights to contextualise the findings. The results indicate pronounced polarisation in citizens’ perceptions of security, with a substantial proportion of respondents expressing feelings of insecurity despite stable or declining official crime statistics. Significant differences in perceived security were identified across municipalities, confirming the strong influence of local urban and social contexts. Furthermore, a strong association was observed between lower trust in security institutions, particularly the police, and higher perceptions of insecurity. The findings also highlight the significant role of media narratives and citizens’ immediate everyday experiences in shaping perceptions of security. The practical implications of these findings point to the need for developing integrated, locally tailored security policies that, in addition to crime prevention, emphasise strengthening institutional trust, improving the quality of the urban environment, and systematically monitoring perceptions of security. The results are consistent with findings from regional and European studies on subjective security and the “fear of crime,” which underscore the weak correlation between objective crime indicators and citizens’ perceptions of security, thereby giving this study broader scientific and comparative relevance.

Keywords

security perception; subjective security; citizen attitudes; Sarajevo Canton; public safety.

Hrčak ID:

347438

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/347438

Publication date:

15.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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