Institutional Affiliation
University of Manitoba
Start Date
3-11-2023 2:30 PM
End Date
3-11-2023 4:00 PM
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Format
On-campus
Proposal Description
After the three-year war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia finally signed the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) in 1995, thereby ending one of Europe’s most violent conflicts. Although the DPA provided a significant opportunity for communities to construct a new state based on the rule of law, freedom, democracy, and human rights, it failed to create a united civic identity and a well-functioning state with strong democratic policies and the ability to protect people’s human rights. The new generation of youth face unemployment, exclusion, lack of educational opportunities, and poor economic and political conditions while they are asked to build intergroup peace and coexist together. In post-accord peacebuilding in BiH, marginalized communities like LGBTQIA* community, the disabled community, youth, and women are often excluded, and their peacebuilding efforts are ignored. This paper empirically explores 43 BiH queer individuals’ understanding of 1) LGBTQIA+ members’ images of peacebuilding and social justice, 2) the role of queer activism, and 3) the impact of the DPA on queer communities.
Included in
Eastern European Studies Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons
“Imagine Being Homophobic in 2022 in This Economy?!”: Bosniak, Croat, and Serb Perceptions of Social Justice
After the three-year war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia finally signed the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) in 1995, thereby ending one of Europe’s most violent conflicts. Although the DPA provided a significant opportunity for communities to construct a new state based on the rule of law, freedom, democracy, and human rights, it failed to create a united civic identity and a well-functioning state with strong democratic policies and the ability to protect people’s human rights. The new generation of youth face unemployment, exclusion, lack of educational opportunities, and poor economic and political conditions while they are asked to build intergroup peace and coexist together. In post-accord peacebuilding in BiH, marginalized communities like LGBTQIA* community, the disabled community, youth, and women are often excluded, and their peacebuilding efforts are ignored. This paper empirically explores 43 BiH queer individuals’ understanding of 1) LGBTQIA+ members’ images of peacebuilding and social justice, 2) the role of queer activism, and 3) the impact of the DPA on queer communities.