Title: The search for identity in Bosnia-Herzegovina: the challenge of Bosnian and Serbian students
Introduction:
Bosnia-Herzegovina, thirty years after the end of the conflict, remains a country marked by ethnic divisions and the scars of war. Selma, 24, a Bosnian student, and Danilo, 25, a Serbian student, share their experience of searching for identity in a country where the past continues to influence the present.
Persistent ethnic divisions:
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, identity and religion remain closely linked. According to Danilo, defining oneself as a Bosnian Serb means trying to separate from Serbia and fueling divisions. Students like Selma and Danilo find themselves confronted with different versions of the history taught. The education system is fragmented, with a separate curriculum for the Serbian Republic and the Croatian-Muslim Federation, which reinforces biased perceptions of history and fuels nationalist tensions.
The weight of the past:
The civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not covered in history curricula, leaving students to turn to other sources of information, such as films, the internet or political speeches. This contributes to the exploitation of the past by political elites, who use history to divide and fuel nationalist sentiments. This complex and contradictory situation makes students’ search for identity even more difficult.
Attachment to Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Despite the challenges they face, Selma and Danilo are determined to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina and help build a better future for their country. They refuse to follow in the footsteps of their parents who had to leave and start their lives elsewhere. Selma and Danilo understand the importance of working together to make their country the best version of itself.
Conclusion:
The quest for identity of Bosnian and Serbian students in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains complex and influenced by ethnic divisions and the weight of the past. However, young people like Selma and Danilo are determined to overcome these obstacles and build a better future for their country. The search for a common identity and national unity remains a challenge, but hope persists that Bosnia and Herzegovina can one day transcend its divisions and focus on building a better future for all its citizens .