A Busdrive through Bosnia's Ethnic Landscape: Post-war Identity Construction Processes in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Abstract

This thesis aims to clarify processes of post war identity construction by analysing the actions of actors on two levels; on a political and grassroots level. Using Andreas Wimmer’s theoretica framework for ethnic boundary making this thesis will explain why actors pursue a certain boundary making strategy. The characteristics of the social field in which actors are situated will clarify their incentives. How can the institutional order, the power hierarchy and the network of political alliances explain why local politicians and grassroots pursue certain boundary making strategies? This will be illustrated with the case study of the Bosnian school system that is still very segregated in some regions.