Why I Don't Discuss 🇧🇦 Politics on Coffee and Rakija
and why I suggest you shouldn't, when you visit 🇧🇦
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This is post has been updated since originally appearing in July 2024!
The title of this post infers that I am not interested in the politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Well, I am. I live here after all, BUT, and this is a big BUT, as a foreigner, firstly it’s NOT MY COUNTRY and secondly it’s definitely not my place to interfere.
Hello I’m David, and Coffee and Rakija is a Digital Magazine about my life and experiences in a rural village in North-West Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ll be giving you a unique look, through the eyes of an immigrant (me), of this much misunderstood country. My goal is to replace the many negative perceptions of both the country and its people, that you’ll be served by international media outlets. Thank you so much for dropping by.
“Tell me about Bosnia and Herzegovina”
Whenever we host family, guests or non Balkan friends, invariably the question pops up and quickly gravitates to politics. For example: How did the conflict of the 1990’s start, who was to blame, why is the country structured as it is, etc etc.
I assume that other visitors and tourists ask similar questions of their local hosts.
Of course you should never assume, as it makes an ass out of u and me
The answers are complicated. Very complicated.
If you were to ask local people, the answers would vary a lot, depending on their ethnicity.
I have my own version as well1.
The history of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the way, depends on who you talk to. The people of this country take their history (and religions) extremely seriously.
Both feature significantly in their everyday lives.
From medieval times, through centuries of various occupations, there’s a lot that still influences, even now in the twenty-first century. The people of this country are though, without doubt very complex, but beyond hospitable and generous.
Add “long memories” and dubious facts that have transformed into embellished legends into the mix, and you can see where things gravitate to.
Excuse the pun, but it’s quite the minefield for a foreigner to get embroiled in.
When I visit other countries, I am looking forward to new sounds, sights, tastes, cultural experiences. To be honest politics are off my radar. That might be your view too?
I truly subscribe to “a country gets a government they deserve”, and although it might appall me as to the behaviour of said government, it really isn’t my place to start offering advice to locals and to try and impress “our way of doing things”.
Don’t get me started about my trip to Ecuador!
The “Hopeful” Take-Away
When you visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, (as I sincerely hope you will during your lifetime), please do engage with your hosts and people you meet, and enjoy the many stories you will be told. Bosnians are great storytellers, trust me.
Don’t just visit Sarajevo and Mostar and spend your time at the “Dark Tourism Exhibits” that exist there, focussing on the conflict of the 1990’s.
Rather plan a visit where you experience the rich culture and heritage that not only those two locations offer, but the remainder of the country, especially Herzegovina in the south and the Krajina in the north, where captivating small towns and villages really show you the heartbeat of the “Heart Shaped” country that Bosnia and Herzegovina is.
You’ll get more of a chance to interact with locals in a way that will benefit both you, and them.
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Thank You for Being Here
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Your support means the world to me, whether it’s a comment, a subscription, or just taking the time to read what I share.
Until next week.
Videmo se opet (I’ll see you again soon).
David.
Before anyone says “David you’ve gone native”, or “You’ve lost perspective”, let me say this. My adopted home (BiH) is 100% dysfunctional, is (by western standards) corrupt, and economically challenged. 30 years after the end of the conflict here, there’s still really little in the way of reconciliation, rather just tolerance. The ethnic groups tried violence to achieve their goals in the mid to late ‘90’s. It didn’t work out. Peace was enforced to stop the violence. However the “Dayton Peace Agreement”, whilst having good intentions, was only ever meant as a short term fix, and over time has created an environment of chaos and insecurity. There is I believe, a bright future, but it’s for the people of BiH, and only them, to work for that. Not the incessant interference of foreign policy goals of external governments, that ensures that chaos prevails.
Politics all over the region are completely dysfunctional, and I think most/many people recognise this. Most people I speak to in ex-Yu look favourably on the socialist years (except in Croatia, and possibly Slovenia - I didn’t ask anybody there so I can’t comment). It’s taken me years to understand the layers of complexity, and I don’t doubt that there will be many more again to understand.
Having an opinion as a foreigner is OK I think, as long as you don’t insist that “West is Best”. Understand why you don’t want to publish things about it, though! Whenever I go near the topic I am at pains to make sure that I have footnotes galore to try to mitigate any perceived offence to one of the many views out there
Its a different story from everybody in the Balkans, and its been fractured a lot. My first stop was Kosovo and they dislike the Serbs. Then you go up into Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Slovenia and its all a part of former yugoslavia. Kinda like England and Scotland and Ireland. Anyways, I think youre a good writer, even though you say you arent!