Three decades after the Dayton Peace Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continues to face recurring political and institutional challenges. The 2025 crisis surrounding former Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, together with ongoing controversies surrounding the Office of the High Representative, highlight persistent disagreements over the country’s constitutional order, state authority and the role of the international community. These tensions have unfolded against a backdrop of political polarisation, democratic stagnation, as well as socioeconomic and demographic decline. At the same time, broader geopolitical shifts have added new layers of uncertainty to BiH’s security environment. Growing divisions within the transatlantic community have at times weakened the coherence of international engagement, creating space for competing local and external agendas.
Against this backdrop, the Royal Higher Institute for Defence proposes a conference examining the sources of stability and instability in contemporary BiH. The discussion will bring together two expert speakers offering complementary perspectives on the country’s evolution. Ms Neira Šabanović, Doctoral Researcher in political science at the Université libre de Bruxelles, will explore the role of collective memory, identity construction and historical narratives in shaping political discourse and intergroup relations. Dr Valery Perry, Senior Associate at the Democratization Policy Council, will focus on BiH’s political trajectory, its relations with international actors and the broader geopolitical and regional dynamics influencing its future.
By bringing these perspectives into dialogue, the conference aims to examine the interaction between domestic political processes and international developments, while encouraging reflection on the conditions that sustain stability in post-conflict societies over the long term and their implications for regional security.
This conference will be held in English at the conference room at campus Renaissance (entrance: rue Hobbema 8/Hobbemastraat 8, 1000 Brussels) on Tuesday 8 December 2026 at 17:00. Simultaneous interpretation in Dutch and French will depend on the progress of the renovation work in the Frank De Winne conference room and cannot be guaranteed at this time. Please note that online participation will not be possible.
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Evening conference
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Between Political Deadlock and Geopolitical Rivalry
Neira Šabanović
(Université libre de Bruxelles)
Dr Valery Perry
(Democratization Policy Council)
Moderator: Giulia PRELZ OLTRAMONTI
Language : English
Simultaneous interpretation in Dutch and French will depend on the progress of the renovation work in the Frank De Winne conference room and cannot be guaranteed at this time.
Please note that online participation will not be possible.
8 December 2026, 17:00 – 18:30
> 16:30 – Registration
> 17:00 – Conference
> 18:30 – Reception
Campus Renaissance
Rue Hobbema/Hobbemastraat, 8
1000 Brussels