War and a Herzegovinian town: Mostar’s un- bridged divisions

Mostar, a once-prosperous multiethnic city in Bosnia-Herzegovina, now stands divided along ethnic lines following the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. The study highlights that while pre-war Mostar was characterized by ethnic diversity and mixed communities, post-conflict Mostar is segregated into Croat-dominated west and Bosniak-dominated east. This division is symbolized by the Stari Most bridge, which, despite its historical significance, does not physically connect the two sides. The research isolates five geopolitical structures that contributed to this shift, contrasting Mostar's situation with Northern Ireland's post-conflict reconciliation. It underscores the enduring impact of ethnic divisions and the challenges in bridging material and figurative gaps in a post-conflict society.

(Ed.). (2015). War and a Herzegovinian town: Mostar’s un- bridged divisions. Politics of Identity in Post-Conflict States, 103–115. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315708669-13