If political candidates are chosen based on whether they are baptized, that is, if their legitimacy is determined by religion and nation, “that represents a serious blow to the civic character and multiethnic constitutional architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” This is stated in an analysis by IFIMES, the International Institute from Ljubljana, ahead of the upcoming elections. “The basis of the relationship between an individual and the state is not religion or ethnicity, but citizenship, from which the rights and obligations of every citizen arise,” the institute concludes.
The institute in Ljubljana is right. There are no examples in the world of a successful state based on ethnic or religious principles. But BiH lives a different reality, one torn between two competing visions. One of which is reflected in the views of Dragana and Faris.
“The young people want some new faces who will not divide people along national or religious lines, and who will not be guided by the principle of «divide and rule».”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMpwEBZ3Yao
“If we want to achieve reconciliation as soon as possible, then we must confront the past as soon as possible. We must settle all the scores from the past so that we can finally turn to the future. That past weighs us down, and we remain heavily burdened by unresolved questions from it. The only legitimate division that should exist between us is whether you are human or not. Everything else is superfluous.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKWWNnPyht8
The second vision is illustrated by Belmin.
“I would not be in a relationship with a girl of another nationality. I respect other people’s religion, but I respect my own religion more.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BG8rMnHGdk
It is difficult, if not impossible, to find a successful state whose political system is based on religious or national affiliation. In Europe, which BiH, according to its leaders, aspires to join, such a system does not exist and is not compatible with the principles of the EU. This is the argument of those who insist that BiH can only be a civic state, or nothing at all. Others, however, point to the fact that BiH is constitutionally organized as a state of three constituent peoples and its citizens. If the idea of a civic state is presented to one nation as the abolition of its political equality, then a civic BiH is not being built; instead, a new division is being created. BiH will not become part of the EU simply because someone declares it a civic state, but only when Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats all feel that it is their country. A civic state can be a goal, but it cannot replace an agreement on how that state should function. Are these two concepts so opposed that it is impossible to reconcile them? Why not consider the following proposal: Members of the Presidency, prime ministers, and speakers of parliament could only be candidates who have the support of the people to which they belong, but also the support of a majority of the other two constituent peoples. In other words, candidates would need a majority among their own people, as well as support from the other two. Then no candidate could say, “Mine are enough for me.” Instead, the message would have to be: “I must also be acceptable to others.” Unfortunately, it is difficult for those who lead national parties to agree with this, because none of them would have a chance of being elected, since they have no credibility with the other two peoples.
