A new NDI report on the democratic transition in Bosnia-Herzegovina highlights the country's post-war and post-communist legacies. It notes that governmental reforms under discussion, while critical, are not sufficient to address the challenges that Bosnia's political institutions and civil society must tackle to put the country firmly on a democratic path.
The report, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, is based on an assessment conducted in September as part of NDI's democracy program in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The report examines the post-conflict and post-communist legacies impeding Bosnia's democratic transition and presents recommendations on democracy assistance going forward.
NDI representatives met with 30 leading political, civic and government leaders in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and several local communities, along with representatives of the international community. The NDI assessment team consisted of Ross Reid, Newfoundland's deputy minister for the voluntary and non-profit sector; Lincoln Mitchell, U.S. political consultant and trainer; Robert Benjamin, NDI regional director for Central and Eastern Europe; and Elvis Zutic, NDI/Bosnia senior program manager.
NDI has conducted democracy support programs in Bosnia since 1996, assisting the development of the country's political parties, election processes, parliaments and legislative systems, and civic advocacy at the local level.
