The multi-faceted examination of the Bosnian War is still very relevant today for numerous reasons, and it echoes throughout a wider society in Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other European nations.
We cannot fully address or resolve the war’s events yet. The peace in the Western Balkans remains fragile and is still under threat. The book project’s creators are convinced that acknowledging the profound influence of the Bosnian War on personal biographies is essential for achieving lasting peaceful coexistence. Although this book cannot completely „come to terms“ with the war, it seeks to make a practical contribution to that process.
Secondly, the authors of the book offer important perspectives on contemporary history, particularly for students and the younger generations who have not encountered the war, even via media coverage. While traditional historical and non-fiction narratives emphasize events and facts that can be verified, this project provides personal and narrative viewpoints that show how lives, choices, and thoughts are still influenced by events from over 30 years ago. Put differently, it illustrates how these experiences are being processed while the war itself remains unresolved.
Thirdly, the contributions go beyond linguistic, generational, and national boundaries, showcasing important social progress. Ideas such as the “post-migrant” society and “cosmopolitization” (Ulrich Beck) illustrate these transformations. Fundamentally, the “national container”—the framework that used to limit our understanding of society—is now too constricted to encompass the social realities of today. This reality encompasses the narratives shared in families, schools, and universities, all of which are part of the larger “German memory culture.” With the post-migrant society becoming increasingly cosmopolitan and interconnected beyond the confines of old national borders, its culture of remembrance must evolve accordingly.
[Cover picture: Emina Haye, Mostar 2018.]