In the convoluted network of Balkan geopolitics, the dynamics of negotiations with serious reviews scheduled for March 2024 in Bosnia and Herzegovina serve not only as a hazy green light for progress but also as a nuanced signal directed toward the entrenched political echelon.
The narrative that has unfolded over the last two decades reflects cunning maneuvers of political elites at the helm. These figures, firmly rooted in power, have not only accumulated significant wealth and influence but have achieved it precisely thanks to decades of ambiguity and stagnation. Traditional EU incentives have little influence on their decisions. Their ‘carrot’ is embedded in the societal fabric filled with shortcomings rather than progress.
The burning question emerges: who holds the ‘stick’? The assumption that citizens, through elections, give unquestionable legitimacy to these elites, cannot be fair.
At the core lies the systemic framework, the very foundation of our semi-democratic structure. Recognition of systemic shortcomings is widespread, but strategies for transformation are almost always aligned with ethnic and territorial divisions – nurturing a perpetual state of conflict.
This seemingly obvious revelation surprisingly encounters minimal disagreement among thoughtful citizens. Reluctance toward changing entrenched perspectives and accepting alternative viewpoints stands as yet another stamp of the political elite’s influence. The intellectual elite adapts to the dominant narrative, embellishes it, and further sustains it. Whether believing or not in official constructs, they easily secure a space for their own existence.
However, this farce paradoxically may serve a deeper purpose. While the cyclical continuity persists, the boundaries within this elite sanctuary are nevertheless tightening, becoming increasingly inaccessible to those who would be part of the elite but are not yet. The prospect of negotiations offers intriguing possibilities, especially to the educated stratum, offering access to resources, processes, and professional paths.
Hence, if the upcoming Commission review fails to exert tangible pressure on the ruling elite, it should at least serve as a strong stimulus for the waiting cohort – a political alternative and new intellectual forces.
And so, the future may indeed carry the potential for a crucial turnaround, not only in politics or negotiations but in the very fabric of society and governance, calling for a new era of progress, accountability, and inclusivity. The reasons are sometimes irrelevant.