The Democratization Process in Post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Role of the European Union

The subject of the book is the analysis of the democratization process in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) following the Dayton Agreement in 1995. For this purpose three goals were defined: how and to what degree the democratization process in BiH can be discussed in light of existing democratization theories, using theoretical democratization approaches to identify independent variables that influence the democratization process in BiH, the focus will be put on a full set of political institutions and institutional designs that are usually alleged to be important preconditions for the consolidation of democracy. Within this framework, the question of statehood, the constitution-making procedure and the resulting institutional framework, and the role of international actors in the BiH context are highlighted. Finally emphasizing the influence of international factors, such as the role of the EU in the democratization process in post-communist Europe, the EU’s influence on this process in BiH is closely examined. The author examines the existing democratic structures and processes in BiH with the model of "consociational democracy" as a specific type of democracy. Thereby the applicability and functionality of this model in BiH society is deeply analyzed.