Bosnian civic and governmental leaders across ethnic lines must be the primary actors in building sustainable peace in Bosnia. Movement toward a well-rooted and sustainable peace in Bosnia calls for a transformation in the severed relationships between the ethnic groups. Without that, the Dayton Accords and other official agreements will continue to be sabotaged by the people. Postwar changes in attitudes and behaviors require conscious intention and continuous reinforcement to counteract patterns of hatred, blame, and counter-violence. Strategies like sustained dialogue encourage and reinforce the shifts required to establish new social behaviors.
Educators represent a critical sector within Bosnian society.
We know their acceptance of each other as Serbs and Muslims in Northwest Bosnia is crucial to a sane future for this region. We also acknowledge that their tragic history makes every inter-ethnic conversation an act of courage and an experience of grace. As we reflect on the series of seminars already completed and look toward the next two years of continued dialogue and community-building, we see both positive and challenging patterns. Plagued by their traumas, histories, and current nationalist mythologies, defensiveness falls away slowly and unevenly. We have no yardstick to measure the pace of progress, nor can we account for the myriad social pressures within families and communities that press against change.