In old travelogues, occasional travelers from the west who came to “explore” the Balkans would be enchanted by its natural beauty, but surprised by the “unpolished” behaviour of its natives. Unpolished in this case means “different from Western European standards”, not necessarily worse. For this reason, the Balkans are often referred to as the “ugly sister of Europe”.
Lately, we see that all the countries of the Balkans are slowly, at a snail’s pace, but still moving, towards EU integration, except for BiH. If we continue the analogy of old travel writers, we could call BiH “the worst of all children” in the Balkans.
But are we really that bad or is it just bad PR?
Young people from BiH are either in the EU or on their way to the EU. Wherever they come they become a valuable member of the society or the collective in which they work. So, it’s not them.
Older people, who stay in BiH, are spending their days, watching their children and grandchildren live somewhere in Europe through social networks.
Both are fully aware that it is impossible to compare the quality of life here (in BiH) to that on the other side (in Europe). BiH still has clean rivers, and thus quality drinking water; unpolluted land, where we can produce high-quality food, beautiful mountains, which we can use as “air spas”, tourist attractions, which millions of people come to visit every year… so what’s the problem?!?
We live in a democratic society, they say. We have free elections, they say. They say all of this, yet they lie.
BiH is a captured state, captured by a national-partocratic oligarchy, which uses and destroys natural resources for personal gain. People go to the polls, but their voice is not heard. The winners of the elections are decided by the counters, not the voters. A seemingly unsolvable problem is suffocating this beautiful country and the people who are not part of the political “ecosystem” in it.
The current state of “controlled chaos” suits the national-partocratic oligarchy because they can hunt in the dark and be sure that they will never be responsible for any rigged tender, employment without competition, and various other circumventions of regulations and procedures. They do not go to the EU, because the rule of law, rules there.
Changes in this situation can only occur through coordinated action from within, but also from outside. Europe cannot just “mix the porridge” and leave the people of BiH to taste it on their own.
Madam Europe, “accept us” into EU society. About 2.5 million of us, those of us who actually live in BiH at the moment, will not bring harm you, but it can benefit us all.
BiH remains a captive society because people vote, in part, because of the fear of renewed war conflicts. To us, the EU means much more than the economic community. It is a guarantee to us that there will be no new war. That should be a motive for you as well so that there will never be a war on European soil again.
Remember, the EU arose out of the need to end wars on European soil. Finish the job and accept BiH into that peaceful community. Take this enfant terrible of the ugly sister of Europe into your club, you will be rewaded with lasting peace in the Balkans.
