THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION

Barbarić, Dražen; Bošnjak, Ana-Mari; Galić, Domagoj

doi:10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

Hum : Journal of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, Vol. 20 No. 33, 2025.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION

Dražen Barbarić orcid.org/0000-0003-1744-9392 ; University of Mostar, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences *
Ana-Mari Bošnjak orcid.org/0009-0003-5170-4470 ; University of Mostar, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Domagoj Galić ; University of Mostar, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences *

* Corresponding author.

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cite

APA 6th Edition

Barbarić, D., Bošnjak, A. & Galić, D. (2025). THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION. Hum, 20 (33), 98-120. https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

MLA 8th Edition

Barbarić, Dražen, et al. "THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION." Hum, vol. 20, no. 33, 2025, pp. 98-120. https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Chicago 17th Edition

Barbarić, Dražen, Ana-Mari Bošnjak and Domagoj Galić. "THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION." Hum 20, no. 33 (2025): 98-120. https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

Harvard

Barbarić, D., Bošnjak, A., and Galić, D. (2025). 'THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION', Hum, 20(33), pp. 98-120. https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

Vancouver

Barbarić D, Bošnjak A, Galić D. THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION. Hum [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 July 20];20(33):98-120. https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

IEEE

D. Barbarić, A. Bošnjak and D. Galić, "THE MAINSTREAM EFFECT AND THE POLARIZATION EFFECT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION", Hum, vol.20, no. 33, pp. 98-120, 2025. [Online]. https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-7431.20.33.2025.98

Abstract

T his paper tests the applicability of the theses proposed by the renowned American scholar John Zaller regarding the mainstream effect and polarization effect through the example of public attitudes in Bosnia and Herzegovina toward the European Union. Briefly explained, Zaller’s model suggests that individuals form political attitudes based on the availability and acceptance of information, whereby dominant narratives in the public sphere shape public opinion, while political division leads to polarization of attitudes. Analyzing public opinion in the Federation of BiH and the Republic of Srpska, this paper explores how different political leaders’ attitudes influence the perception of the EU among BiH residents. Using data analysis methods drawn from relevant research, the paper tests the hypothesis that political leaders’ rhetoric in both entities shapes citizens’ attitudes toward the European Union, while political affiliation and orientation amplify the polarization effect.