Bosnia and Herzegovina, the land in the center of the World. European yet cosmopolitan. It is the year 2019. 24 years from the end of War on Western Balkans between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia. At the same time, I am also 23 years old – a very symbolic coincidence.
Facing the current state
For this period of time Bosnia and Herzegovina has been hostage of its own constitution and law enforcements. The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of the Dayton peace agreement Annex IV, and it has been created to stop the war on the territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina and establish a government from all war sides. This concept had been designed as a short-term solution in order to create a foundation for a next phase and that is a constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina that is actually enforced by citizens of this country.
This situation has been used for local politicians to separate the power between themselves and divide people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina are contained with two entities and one district. Entity of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into 10 Cantons and further into municipalities. There are around 180 ministers and 13 prime ministers and a presidency made out of three persons. The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina is based primarily on nations rather than citizenship and three main nationalities are constitutional Bosniaks, Serbians and Croats. Also, there is a council for implementation of peace which have a high representative. He is part of the decision-making processes. This is also part of the Dayton peace agreement.
A new life for Bosnia & Herzegovina
I don’t want to write about current problems. I want to write about our future and solutions! New constitution is a breakthrough for the future! Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently not a unitarian country but it does not have to be in future as it is currently showing some federal aspects of state organization. There are pros and cons for each type of organization, but I will show my vision of it.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a democratic country with a constitution enforced by its citizens and fully compatible with any international convention without disregarding any of nations. Bosnia and Herzegovina is contained of four Cantons Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla.
The capital city would be Sarajevo as a separate district, with all these governing capitals of the regions or cantons. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a two-party system with a union of national parties and a union of social democrat parties. The institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina will have high level of decentralization where only presidency and ministry council would be located in Sarajevo, the Parliament would be in Banja Luka, the HQ of the central bank in Mostar and Constitutional Court in Tuzla.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina there shall be four state universities in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar. There shall be a commission for state holidays, names of public buildings and streets based on consensus. For example, the name of the street in Banja Luka shall not be the name of some famous person without consensus of all nations.
Ready for the future
I just showed bits and pieces of what we young people should work on. With this system Bosnia and Herzegovina would be a modern European country with a solid budget, capable of financing infrastructural and economic reforms creating welfare state for its citizens. This would help stop brain drain of young people and create solid market for workers. Bosnia and Herzegovina need to be changed by its citizens not from foreign influence.
Youth, citizens and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina unite!
You liked this paper? Young Leader Edna Hasagić-Ajanović from Bosnia & Herzegovina wrote the paper “Eliminating Brain Drain – Promoting Migration“. Read now!
