The younger generation of politicians in Bosnia has brought about no positive change at all in the country’s confrontational politics – and won’t do in future.
Among the many follies generated by the NGO sector in Bosnia in the post-war period is that a new generation of politicians in Bosnia will bring change. This sounded both polite and hopeful. The narrative was that once the politicians of the 1990s exited the political scene, a new and a brighter beginning was assured.
The NGO sector in Bosnia – both international and domestic – played up this hope. They organized countless seminars and summer schools over the years. International donors supported programs honing the skills of future leaders. Many got the opportunity to travel abroad as part of various initiatives to gain international experience. Media outlets were happy to cover both the programs and to feature young and promising individuals.
Everyone benefitted from this hope. Young individuals built up their resumes and many travelled in the region and beyond as a result. Domestic NGOs got funding and claimed they were working for a better future in Bosnia. International sponsors had a feel-good attitude that they were supporting a worthwhile cause.
With or without the NGO sector, a change was bound to take place anyway if for no other reason than for pure biology. Many of the politicians of three decades ago are no longer active in politics.