We are extremely concerned by the response of the international community to the popular protests that have erupted against almost two decades of misrule in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Editorial, 17 February). Western media and politicians have argued that now is not the time for the western powers to disengage from Bosnia.
In fact, it is time to recognise that external rule in Bosnia has failed. The Dayton agreement in 1995 set up an undemocratic "protectorate", giving the high representative of the western powers neocolonial authority over a political system that has institutionalised ethnic divisions, while neoliberal economic policies have impoverished ordinary Bosnians regardless of ethnicity.
Do the western powers have any answers to this crisis? The high representative, Valentin Inzko, can think only of threatening military intervention. Periodic threats by the US and the EU to revise the Dayton agreement by recentralising Bosnia have only made matters worse, raising the spectre of secession as Serbs and Croats look to Serbia and Croatia for support. And neither Brussels nor Washington will contemplate reversing the neoliberal economic policies that have impoverished so many.
It is therefore time to terminate the office of the high representative and end outside meddling in Bosnian affairs.
The popular protests have made clear that there is widespread rejection of ethnic divisions and neoliberal policies imposed from above. Free from external economic, political and military pressure, we are confident that the peoples of Bosnia will come together to establish a society based on social justice and national equality.Samir Amin Economist, SenegalCédric Durand Economist, Paris 13 University, FranceEmin Eminagić Activist, Bosnia and HerzegovinaLindsey German Stop the War Coalition (p/c), United KingdomGrigoris Gerotziafas Associate professor of hematology-hemostasis, Université Pierre et Maris Curis (Paris VI), militant of Antarsya in France/GreeceAnna Grodzka Member of parliament of the Republic of PolandCostas Isihos Member of the political secretariat and head of the foreign policy department of SyrizaMariya Ivancheva Independent scholar and member of the editorial board of LeftEast, BulgariaStathis Kouvelakis Reader in political theory, King's College, London, and Syriza central committee, United Kingdom and GreeceZbigniew Marcin Kowalewski Researcher and editor, PolandAleksandra Lakić Researcher, Bosnia and HerzegovinaKen Loach Film director, United KingdomJames Meadway Economist, United KingdomMatija Medenica Solidarnost editor, SerbiaChina Miéville Author, United KingdomTijana Morača Independent researcher, SerbiaGoran Musić Historian, AustriaJelena Petrović Red Min(e)d, SloveniaDragan Plavšić Lawyer and author, United KingdomFlorin Poenaru Anthropologist, RomaniaSrećko Pulig Aktiv editor, CroatiaMarija Ratković The Culture of Memory, SerbiaJames Robertson Graduate student, history, New York University, United StatesCatherine Samary Economist, FranceRichard Seymour Author and columnist, United KingdomGM Tamás Philosopher, CEU, Budapest, HungaryMary Taylor CUNY Graduate Center, USAVladimir Unkovski-Korica Historian, United KingdomAna Vilenica Uz)bu))na))) editor, SerbiaAndreja Živković Author, United Kingdom
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