Political economy
Born in Sanski Most, Ivanić has lived in Banja Luka since 1971, when he earned his university diploma in economics there. He then received a doctorate in Belgrade; the thesis was titled "Contemporary Marxist political economy in the West". He undertook post-Doctoral studies at the University of Mannheim and the University of Glasgow. Upon completion of his studies, he worked as a journalist. From 1985 to 1988, he lectured in Political economy at the Faculty of Economics in Banja Luka, and later also in Sarajevo and Glasgow.