The Actual Impact of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on the ...

120 Pages·2011·1.54 MB·English

by  Kristine Johansen

The Actual Impact of the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on the
Reconciliation Process in
Bosnia-Herzegovina

Kristine Johansen
Master Thesis for the Master of Philosophy in Peace and Conflict Studies
Department of Political Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF OSLO
15 July 2011
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Kristine Johansen
The Actual Impact of the International
Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia on
the Reconciliation Process in
Bosnia-Herzegovina
-A case study based on in-depth interviews

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© Kristine Johansen
2011
The Actual Impact of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia on
the Reconciliation Process in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Kristine Johansen
http://www.duo.uio.no/
Trykk: Reprosentralen, Universitetet i Oslo
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Abstract
This thesis explores the actual impact of the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on the reconciliation process in Bosnia-Herzegovina and
analyses possible reasons for this impact. It is a qualitative case study based on in-
depth interviews, predominantly with Bosnian Muslims in Sarajevo and staff of the
ICTY. The main argument of the thesis is that although the ICTY is believed to be a
legitimate and necessary institution, it does not reach its full potential to positively
contribute to stable peace. This is due to factors within the ICTY and Bosnia itself. The
most notable factor is the politico-economic situation in Bosnia, which paves way for
political figures to manipulatively use the Tribunal’s work, and the lack of national
initiatives for reconciliation. The harsh economic situation also means that the
average Bosnian have more primary concerns. The fact that alleged criminals such as
Radovan Karadzic are allowed to continue their nationalist rhetoric in the courtroom,
as well as the perceived lenient sentences and the hailing of war criminals in the
home communities, adds to the frustration and resentment felt by many survivors.
All in all, the data collected suggests that the ICTY currently acts to further divide
rather than reconcile people within Bosnia. However, it is hoped that as more actors
enter the public arena, the judgments of the ICTY will be used more constructively in
the trans-generational process that reconciliation is.

120 Pages (32,628 words)
Supervisors: Anton Weiss-Wendt and Stig Jarle Hansen
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Acknowledgements

It is a great pleasure and a privilege to thank everyone who has helped me to write
this thesis, I could not have done this without you.
First and foremost I would like to thank my supervisors Anton Weiss-Wendt and Stig
Jarle Hansen for their guidance and enthusiasm throughout the writing process. Your
involvement has been crucial for the completion of this project.
I would also like to thank my friends and family who have cheered me on in a
challenging process, and that have listened to my thoughts and worries. I hope that in
the aftermath many will be grateful for the knowledge that was somewhat imposed
on them about Bosnia and transitional justice. Especially, I would like to thank my
fiancé Warren for accompanying me on the fieldwork and for brightening up the
darker days in Sarajevo when I had the chicken pox. I am truly thankful for your
patience and moral support. I am also grateful for my parents’ support, and for them
taking their time to read and comment on my thesis.
I would also like to direct a special thanks to Naida, who took very good care of me in
Sarajevo and who introduced me to the art of Bosnian baking. Lastly, I would like to
offer my thanks to my informants who were as kind to meet with me and offer useful
insight into not only their work but their personal lives. I have been overwhelmed by
the Bosnian hospitality, and the warmth of the people I met both in The Hague and in
Bosnia has made this process a lot smoother.
I take full responsibility for any mistakes in this thesis.

Kristine Johansen
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Contents

Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... v
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ vii
Contents .................................................................................................................................................. ix
Map of Bosnia-Herzegovina ................................................................................................................ xi
Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 Research Questions ................................................................................................................. 8
2.0 Background ...................................................................................................................................... 10
2.1 The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina 1992-1995 ................................................................................ 10
2.1.1 Conflicting Discourses .......................................................................................................... 13
2.1.2 The Western Contribution to the Bosnian War ................................................................... 15
2.1.3 War Crimes ........................................................................................................................... 17
2.1.4 The Institutionalization of Ethnic Divisions .......................................................................... 17
2.2 The ICTY- Mandate and Mission .................................................................................................. 19
2.2.1 A Restricted Mandate ........................................................................................................... 21
2.2.2 The Wider Mission ................................................................................................................ 22
2.2.3 Challenges and Expectations of the ICTY ............................................................................. 23
3.0 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 28
3.1 The interpretive constructionist approach.................................................................................. 28
3.2 Responsive Interviews ................................................................................................................. 30
3.2.2 Sampling ............................................................................................................................... 31
3.3 Ethics in the Conduct of Research ............................................................................................... 33
3.3.2 Reliability and Validity .......................................................................................................... 35
3.4 Challenges ................................................................................................................................... 36
4.0 Theoretical Approach ...................................................................................................................... 38
4.1 Reconciliation as a Prerequisite for Stable Peace ....................................................................... 38
4.3 Justice and Truth ......................................................................................................................... 41
4.4 Transitional Justice and Reconciliation ....................................................................................... 42
5. 0 Analysis ........................................................................................................................................... 52
5.1 A Legitimate Tribunal .................................................................................................................. 54
5.2 Limitations within the Tribunal ................................................................................................... 56
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5.2.1 Length and Consistency of Sentences .................................................................................. 58
5.2.2 The Courtroom as a Public Space ......................................................................................... 60
5.2.3 The ‘Reconciliation Rationale’ Behind the Guilty Pleas ........................................................ 61
5.2.4 The Act of Testifying ............................................................................................................. 67
5.2.5 Truth and the De-monopolization of Facts .......................................................................... 70
5.2.6 The Challenge of Communication ........................................................................................ 73
5.3 Limitations within Bosnia-Herzegovina ....................................................................................... 77
5.5.1The Politico-Economic Crisis .................................................................................................. 80
5.5.3 Conflict fatigue ..................................................................................................................... 85
6.0 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 90
Afterword .............................................................................................................................................. 94
Appendix 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 96
Appendix 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 98
Appendix 3 ......................................................................................................................................... 99
Literature ............................................................................................................................................. 104

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