Review article
The Contribution of Ruling Bosnian and Herzegovinian Political Parties to the Outbreak of War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Saša Mrduljaš
orcid.org/0000-0002-1946-2243
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Split
Abstract
According to the essential part of its constitutional makeup (1974 Constitution) the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B-H) was defined as an entity of three constitutional, sovereign and mutually equal peoples: Croats, Serbs and Muslims (Bosniaks). Such a political and legal model was meant to ensure full protection of national interests of all three peoples. However, until its very end, the League of Communists of Bosnia and Herzegovina could not establish an internal makeup of Bosnia and Herzegovina according to these principles. Such a makeup should have, in the event of a breakup of Yugoslavia, enabled the best possible protection of Bosnian-Herzegovinian multiethnicity and peace in that republic. Thus, the issue of regulation of national interests and relations was, according to results of elections held in November 1990, was “left over“ to the winning political parties: Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ) and Serb Democratic Party (SDS), as well as Muslim/Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA). These parties practically did not even try to find solutions to national interests and relations according to the mentioned principles. On the contrary, by pursuing their egotist state-building goals they, each in its own way, gave a major contribution to the escalation of an atmosphere of conflict. This eventually led to an open armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 1992.
Keywords
internal makeup of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croats; Serbs; Muslims/Bosniaks; ruling political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina; statebuilding goals; war
Hrčak ID:
76152
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2011.
Visits: 2.269 *