Reconceptions of \u27Home\u27 and Identity within the Post-War Bosnian Diaspora in the United States

According to estimates by Bosnian authorities, there are two million Bosnians and their descendants living in diaspora, the highest number recorded since the end of the conflict in 1995. Most of these individuals are forced or involuntary migrants who fled the genocide and ethnic cleansing campaign of Serb nationalists who sought to destroy Bosnia as a historically multiethnic homeland in order to create ethnically homogeneous Serb territory. Over twenty years after the war, many of those that were displaced have not returned to their former homes and are unlikely to ever return. This study contributes to deepening understanding of the challenges faced by those displaced as they struggle to rebuild their lives and future in a new context. It does so through a theory-based analysis of the notion of home and constructions of identity in diaspora following conflict, and the narratives of members of the Bosnian diaspora about their experiences of conflict and violence in the places they called home. The strategy of violence used by nationalist Serbs physically destroyed places and people’s homes, but it also impacted long-existing social structures and relationships, transforming the images of those places. As a consequence, the dispersal itself and the causes behind it became a central element in displaced Bosnians’ redefinition of home and identity, where the place of resettlement developed as the best place to be, a new home, based on a search for ‘cool ground’ and ‘normal life.’ Two processes have played critical roles in this reconceptualization. First is the expansion of the family network, allowing for a regeneration of family structures that were fragmented by conflict. Second is translocalism, referring to the community-specific ways individuals maintain attachments to their former home. The places of resettlement and their particularities influence these processes and activities, producing distinct conditions for a reconceptualized home. The study’s findings suggest that further research into translocalism as an enduring solution to the condition of displacement would be of benefit, as contemporary refugees from Syria and other places of conflict try to re-establish life outside of their home countries. The findings also provide a foundation for research on the children of refugees, specifically on how memory and trauma are being communicated and passed on to them by their parents

BORDERS AND INTEGRATION: BECOMING A BOSNIAN-AMERICAN

For Bosnian and Herzegovinians fleeing the conflict in their homeland in the 1990s, the process of finding a safe haven was a tumultuous experience. Despite the protections outlined in the 1951 Geneva Convention, the response of former Yugoslavia’s neighboring countries to the humanitarian crisis was a tightening of borders and restrictive reception policies. These experiences are in contrast to the reception policies Bosnian refugees encountered in the United States, whose permanent resettlement program at that period in time offered opportunities for ‘normal life,’ as discussed by Jansen1. ‘Border work,’ using Jones and Johnson’s2 term, has implications for practical forms of integration. This paper reviews and contrasts the ‘border work’ of European nations and the United States in relation to Bosnian refugees and discusses the integration of Bosnian-Americans in the United States, using St. Louis, Missouri, as an example. With the focus on the Bosnian community in the United States, particularly in cities with many Bosnians, studying the US Bosnian diaspora makes for an interesting case study provided that in terms of social, cultural, and economic adaptation, the Bosnian story is considered an immigration success story. The paper has implications for practical forms of integration, resettlement, and adaptation

A Strategic Vision for the Future [online conference]

Conference welcome and program overview by Patrick McCarthy, Working Group for Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 am: Ending Genocide Denial & Glorification of War Criminals, David Pettigrew and Adna Karamehic-Oates 11 am: NATO Membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sean Turcalo and Azem Dervisevic 12-1 pm: Break 1-2 pm: Euro-Atlantic Integration and EU Membership for B&H, Adnan Cerimagic and Vildana Bijedic 2-3 pm: Election and Constitutional Reform, Almira Delibegovic-Broome and Mead Misic All times are EST

Civic Courage Award: 2020

Interview with Nusreta Sivac, recipient of the 2020 Civic Courage Award. In Bosnian. A complete English-language translation is available through the transcript provided here. Translated by Adna Karamehic-Oates. The presentation of the award and events planned in March were cancelled due to COVID-19. In their stead, the Center arranged to record an interview that would allow Ms. Sivac to talk about her experiences. Interviewer: Adna Karamehic-OatesInterview Date: December 30, 2020 The Civic Courage Award was established in 2015 and is awarded for courageous commitment to the civic values of respect, equality, and pluralism that represent the best traditions of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Recipients are presented with the award at a formal ceremony and reception hosted by the Center for Bosnian Studies

Bosnian Genocide and Its Aftermath: A Scholars\u27 Panel

A panel discussion to mark the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Scholars in the fields of genocide, memory, and archival studies address ongoing revisionist efforts about what happened in Srebrenica and discuss the importance of countering this rhetoric in order to defend the truth

Briefing One: Justice for All and the Public Health Emergency

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global emergency. It is not only a health crisis but also a human rights crisis. Justice actors face daunting responsibilities as they design, implement, and enforce new measures to prevent the spread of infection. Measures that heighten the risk of human rights abuses can undermine trust, at a time when the justice system most needs to maintain the public’s confidence. For better or for worse, justice systems and justice workers are on the frontline of this pandemic. If we get our response right, societies will be better able to confront the pandemic effectively and fairly. That will build the foundations for reset and recovery. If we get it wrong, it is no exaggeration to say that people will die unnecessarily. In the Justice for All report released last year, the Task Force on Justice noted that 1.5 billion people had a justice problem that they could not resolve. Now as well as before the pandemic, marginalized communities – already poorly served by justice systems – face the highest risks, as do vulnerable groups. The pandemic is widening the justice gap, with a sharp increase in the problems that many people face and the ability of justice actors to respond declining. This briefing – Justice for All and the Public Health Emergency – discusses the most pressing priorities that the public health emergency poses for justice leaders and proposes seven areas for urgent action as the tide of infections continues to rise. It will soon be followed by a second briefing to cover the role justice plays in the economic crisis and recovery, and in building cohesion and hope for a better world. In the health sector we are seeing a massive global effort, with people coming together in response to the pandemic. This includes unprecedented international cooperation, a global drive to find treatment and a vaccine, and intensive international sharing and learning among health professionals as they battle the pandemic. This briefing too has been a collective effort, but it is only the beginning. It is also a call to action for the justice community to rally to help countries under extraordinary pressure to get it right. We call on everyone working for justice – globally, nationally, locally; in government, civil society, community organizations or the private sector – to pull together to resolve the justice problems the pandemic is creating, to prevent injustices from occurring, and to use justice as a platform for people to play the fullest possible role in their economies and societies.This report was commisioned by Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societie

Briefing Two: Justice for All and the Economic Crisis

The world faces its biggest economic crisis in almost 100 years. COVID-19's economic impacts are sure to last longer than the public health emergency and will trigger a massive increase in justice problems. Unemployment is rising, people are increasingly threatened by eviction, many companies are fighting to stave off bankruptcy. In our briefing on Justice for All and the Economic Crisis we present strategies for how justice systems can help, not hinder economic recovery, and how justice leaders can take action to reshape justice systems and support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient patterns of growth.This report was commisioned by Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societie

Fighting Bigotry & Hatred: Center for Bosnian Studies

Recently opened on the Fontbonne University campus, the new Center for Bosnian Studies is establishing an enduring record of the experiences of Bosnian genocide survivors and their families. The Center’s mission is to counter the hate and discrimination that fueled the war in Bosnia and continues to fuel innumerable conflicts worldwide. While the Center is new, the historical and cultural preservation initiative began when the Bosnian Memory Project was founded in 2006. Today, the Center focuses on the estimated 60,000 Bosnian refugees in metropolitan St. Louis, the largest group living outside of Bosnia. Join Director Adna Karamehic-Oates and Senior Researcher Benjamin Moore for a compelling presentation about the Center’s growing collection of digital oral histories of survivors and their families, special rare items, and other unique resources related to Bosnia and its diaspora. This program is part of the Mirowitz Center\u27s Fighting Bigotry & Hatred series

25 Years: Being Bosnian American in St. Louis

This online panel discussion was part of the Missouri Historical Society\u27s STL History Live series

Fontbonne’s new Center for Bosnian Studies preserves history for new generations, scholars: St. Louis on the Air

Adna Karamehic-Oates joined Monday’s St. Louis on the Air to discuss the center’s efforts. She was joined by Behidin Piric, a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre who now lives in Arnold. Piric recently interned for the Bosnia Memory Project, and he continues to collect oral histories today