Mission Magazine, March 19, 2012 – Sarajevo Open Centre’s “State, Politics and Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina”

The Sarajevo Open Centre (SOC), with support from EUPM and The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, recently released a new scientific publication, “State, Politics and Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina – An Analysis of the Post-Dayton Political System.” This comprehensive work was edited by the SOC’s Damir Banović and Saša Gavrić, and is the result of cooperation with 19 young authors from throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany.

“State, Politics and Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina” contains 24 articles covering such diverse topics as the nature of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political system, domestic society and economy, the current constitution and constitutional reform processes, state institutions, political parties, local media, federal units and international relations. The Editors, Mr. Banović and Mr. Gavrić, are the Coordinator and Executive Director of the SOC, respectively. Speaking to EUPM Mission Magazine authors, Mr. Banović explained that the publication “gives a picture – or photo – of the current system as it is, rather than trying to analyze its good or bad points.”

Featuring Young Experts

The 19 young authors who contributed to this publication are highly educated researchers and academics in the fields of law, political science, sociology, philosophy and economics. They represent many of the major universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. SOC representatives are particularly proud of the publication’s positive example of cross-entity scientific cooperation and research, and hope to continue to encourage such processes in the future. The extensive publication is 589 pages long and may be classified as a monograph.

Statewide Promotion

The SOC has committed a significant amount of time and effort to the promotion of this publication, with events thus far held at the Law Faculty of the University of Sarajevo, the Law Faculty of the University of East Sarajevo, the Law Faculty of the University of Mostar, and the Jazavac Theater in Banja Luka. The SOC is grateful to the book’s authors, as well as Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Ms. SabinaWoelkner, and EUPM Chief of Mission, Mr. Stefan Feller, for their active participation in promoting the publication.

SOC Coordinator, Mr. Banović, expressed his gratitude to EUPM for its support of the publication, noting that EUPM recognized the scientific importance of supporting youth and education, as well as providing a concrete means by which individuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina could become familiar with the political system. “State, Politics and Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina”is available for purchase at the bookstores of the Law and Philosophy Faculties of the University of Sarajevo and was published by University Press – Magistrat Sarajevo. For those interested in purchasing the book online, please visit www.knjiga.ba or www.interliber.com for more information.

Broad Readership

Thus far, SOC reports a broad and diverse audience including students, universities, and academics and researches both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. Various political parties and government institutions – such as the House of Peoples and the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – have taken an interest in the new publication. Mr. Banović stated that the positive experience he associates with “State, Politics and Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina” has given the SOC ideas for a new, adapted publication in the English language. Given the success of SOC’s recent publication, EUPM is confident that another, similar product will be published in the future and wish the SOC all the best in their important efforts to demystify state, politics and society for readers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as abroad!