Bosnian ‘Returnee Voices’ Communicating Experiences of Successful Reintegration. The Social Capital and Sustainable Return Nexus in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Large scale war-displacement during the 1990s in Bosnia and Herzegovina greatly altered the demography of that country and caused severe damage to its social fabric. However, until now few studies have addressed the nexus of social capital and reintegration there in areas with high rates of return. This study is focused on relational practices relevant to the social environment and people in Prijedor, Zvornik, and Novo Goražde, three well-known returnee municipalities. This author’s findings suggest that reintegration is critically linked to mobilisation of various forms of social capital during all phases of the return process, and point to overlooked grass-roots activism which goes on despite the unfavourable political and socio-economic situation in the country. Positive development takes place when there is little political interference at local community level in a strong civil society. It requires strong leaders and social initiative takers among formal and informal returnee associations as well as resourceful individual returnees, all of which working together shape and lead reintegration activities.