Power politics and the rule of law in post-dayton bosnia

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the rule of law has emerged as a key priority within contemporary peacebuilding efforts. Drawing on examples from post-Dayton Bosnia, this article examines the impact of rule of law reform efforts on broader patterns of power and political authority in peacebuilding contexts. It suggests that in the case of Bosnia, the use of rule of law strategies to restructure political life has largely failed. Thus, despite some notable achievements on the rule of law front, the core dynamics of Bosnia's political conflict remain intact, and country's peace process is as fragile as ever. The article concludes by noting that charting a course between accepting the political status quo and fundamentally transforming it requires more nuanced approaches that advance the rule of law even while accepting its limits as an instrument of deep political transformation.