Ideas How leaders in the former Yugoslavia forged peace in 1995
Sep 15, 2025
Branka Marian, a senior researcher and lecturer, discusses her insights on everyday peace in conflict zones. Isabella Steflia, an author and political scientist, explores the post-conflict complexities in Bosnia. Payam Akhavan, an international human rights lawyer, shares his experiences within the International Criminal Tribunal. Together, they delve into the nuances of the 1995 Dayton Accord, questioning the shift from mere cessation of violence to sustainable peace. Their conversation highlights historical lessons and the ongoing struggles for reconciliation in a divided society.
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Negative Peace Is A Low Bar
- Branka Marian argues Dayton delivered negative peace by stopping shootings but entrenched ethnic divisions.
- She warns that halting violence is a low bar and doesn't erase economic and social restraints placed by Dayton.
Witness Who Turned Against The Atrocities
- Payam Akhavan recounts Dražen Erdemovic who refused then participated in Srebrenica executions and later testified.
- Erdemovic showed perpetrators could be remorseful and useful as witnesses for justice.
Economic Collapse Fueled Ethnic Politics
- Isabella Steflia links Tito's death and economic collapse to ethnic nationalism's rise.
- She shows leaders used identity as a distraction from structural economic problems.
