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The citizens of Croatia and Serbia have strong ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina, through birth, friends and family, a survey says.
According to a survey conducted by a German Social Democrat oriented organization, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a total of 41% of respondents in Croatia and 35% of respondents in Serbia were either born in Bosnia and Herzegovina or are of Bosnian origin and have families and relatives there.
800 people in Croatia and 812 in Serbia participated in the survey, which was conducted in November last year.
The head of the team that carried out the survey, Bozo Skoko, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb, says that the aim was to see how the neighbouring countries are connected with Bosnia.
“We were fascinated by the relationship that Croatians and Serbians have with the Bosnians. The data showed that the citizens of both Croatia and Serbia care about what is happening in Bosnia, and this means that Bosnia has real friends and advocates in those countries,” says Skoko.
When the participants thought of Bosnia and Herzegovina, they thought first and foremost of “burek and ćevapi“[Bosnian traditional food] as symbols of a very specific Bosnian cuisine. However, this culinary association was stronger for the Croatian respondents (27%) than for those from Serbia (18%).
The second most popular association with Bosnia was its “humor and stress-free life“– 16% in Serbia and 13% in Croatia.
This was followed by “political tensions” (12% in both Serbia and Croatia), multiculturalism (12% in Serbia and 10% in Croatia), and “two entities and three peoples” (11% in Croatia and 10% in Serbia).
The least prevalent association is the one with “Islam” (3% in Serbia and 1% in Croatia).
“It is obvious that, in spite of war and its consequences, Bosnia and Herzegovina sends out strong, positive signals related to lifestyle - such as good food, low stress and lots of humour - and human values, all of which should certainly be used in promoting its new image,” says Skoko.
However, Bosnia is still strongly linked with war, especially in Serbia, where 13% of respondents associate Bosnia with war, as opposed to just 3% from Croatia.
The greatest Bosnia’s assets are its people, the survey suggested, followed by its natural resources and lifestyle.
The top destinations for visitors from the neighbouring countries are the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, followed by the towns of Mostar and Banja Luka.
On the other hand, Croatians and Serbians give the importance of their country’s political and economic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina a modest score of three.
“If we summarize their views, we could say that both countries fully appreciate the natural diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its rich cultural and historical heritage. In addition, they consider Bosnia to be a land of diversity, bringing together the East and West, Christianity and Islam,” says Skoko.
The survey, the full title of which was “The image of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens in Croatia and Serbia”, also explored how the citizens of Croatia and Serbia see the future of Bosnia over the next 10 years.
Over half of citizens in both Croatia and Serbia are pessimistic: the deeply held belief that no significant changes will take place is shared by 42% of Serbians and 39% of Croatians. Another significant group believes that Bosnia will remain an international protectorate.
Serbians were more likely to believe that Bosnia would become/remain a “divided country” (15% Serbians and 9% Croatians).
A roughly equivalent number of Croatians and Serbians believe that the country will become a confederation of three or more entities. A similar number believed that Bosnia would become a united civil state.
“Such pessimistic attitudes are not surprising given the signs, messages and images that citizens of Croatia and Serbia receive from Bosnia and Herzegovina, few of which speak of unity and a clear vision for the future of the country,” concludes Skoko.
Serbians and Croatians Have Strong Ties with Bosnia :: Balkan Insight
According to a survey conducted by a German Social Democrat oriented organization, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a total of 41% of respondents in Croatia and 35% of respondents in Serbia were either born in Bosnia and Herzegovina or are of Bosnian origin and have families and relatives there.
800 people in Croatia and 812 in Serbia participated in the survey, which was conducted in November last year.
The head of the team that carried out the survey, Bozo Skoko, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb, says that the aim was to see how the neighbouring countries are connected with Bosnia.
“We were fascinated by the relationship that Croatians and Serbians have with the Bosnians. The data showed that the citizens of both Croatia and Serbia care about what is happening in Bosnia, and this means that Bosnia has real friends and advocates in those countries,” says Skoko.
When the participants thought of Bosnia and Herzegovina, they thought first and foremost of “burek and ćevapi“[Bosnian traditional food] as symbols of a very specific Bosnian cuisine. However, this culinary association was stronger for the Croatian respondents (27%) than for those from Serbia (18%).
The second most popular association with Bosnia was its “humor and stress-free life“– 16% in Serbia and 13% in Croatia.
This was followed by “political tensions” (12% in both Serbia and Croatia), multiculturalism (12% in Serbia and 10% in Croatia), and “two entities and three peoples” (11% in Croatia and 10% in Serbia).
The least prevalent association is the one with “Islam” (3% in Serbia and 1% in Croatia).
“It is obvious that, in spite of war and its consequences, Bosnia and Herzegovina sends out strong, positive signals related to lifestyle - such as good food, low stress and lots of humour - and human values, all of which should certainly be used in promoting its new image,” says Skoko.
However, Bosnia is still strongly linked with war, especially in Serbia, where 13% of respondents associate Bosnia with war, as opposed to just 3% from Croatia.
The greatest Bosnia’s assets are its people, the survey suggested, followed by its natural resources and lifestyle.
The top destinations for visitors from the neighbouring countries are the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, followed by the towns of Mostar and Banja Luka.
On the other hand, Croatians and Serbians give the importance of their country’s political and economic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina a modest score of three.
“If we summarize their views, we could say that both countries fully appreciate the natural diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its rich cultural and historical heritage. In addition, they consider Bosnia to be a land of diversity, bringing together the East and West, Christianity and Islam,” says Skoko.
The survey, the full title of which was “The image of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens in Croatia and Serbia”, also explored how the citizens of Croatia and Serbia see the future of Bosnia over the next 10 years.
Over half of citizens in both Croatia and Serbia are pessimistic: the deeply held belief that no significant changes will take place is shared by 42% of Serbians and 39% of Croatians. Another significant group believes that Bosnia will remain an international protectorate.
Serbians were more likely to believe that Bosnia would become/remain a “divided country” (15% Serbians and 9% Croatians).
A roughly equivalent number of Croatians and Serbians believe that the country will become a confederation of three or more entities. A similar number believed that Bosnia would become a united civil state.
“Such pessimistic attitudes are not surprising given the signs, messages and images that citizens of Croatia and Serbia receive from Bosnia and Herzegovina, few of which speak of unity and a clear vision for the future of the country,” concludes Skoko.
Serbians and Croatians Have Strong Ties with Bosnia :: Balkan Insight
