Failed States And The Up Standers, Could They Overcome Cultural Differences?

The issue of failing and failed states is one of the most recent problems of world international relations. So far there is no solution to this problem, and only few international organizations are trying to approach this problem. Bosnia is one of those states, but its situation is really different from other failing states. The biggest issues that make Bosnia a failing state, and cause other serious problems, are the cultural, ethnical, and demographic tensions. To better understand this problem one need to try to understand the past, present tensions in Bosnia. Overcoming those tensions is one of the biggest challenges that Bosnia need to face, that make this country even more interesting.

Our second day in Sarajevo was rich in unique opportunities regarding getting to know other fellows, our cultural backgrounds and cultural differences. During the early morning discussion we were trying to define the basic terms. That was an opportunity to get to know the difference between understanding phrases like “respect” and “to be engaged” among an international group. All of us know that our cultural backgrounds differ, but some didn’t expect that there could be so many different interpretations of those terms. The program itself provides us the perfect opportunities to get to know other cultures, way of thinking of people of other nationalities and how to enjoy, appreciate and respect our differences. For me it’s one of the biggest advantages of the program itself that we can learn from our fellows from another countries about their perspective of understanding the world. In my opinion being provided with the different point of view is one of the greatest things that can happen to people studying, like myself, political science. Other things that so far I’m enjoying about the program are lots of speeches that we are going to participate in. It will be a great opportunity for people, like myself, that still don’t know what part of human rights and NGOs we’re most interested in. It’s going to be a really intensive month, but it will also be interesting, rewarding and will help those who are undecided of their career goals.  

The high point of our day was the first lecture about Bosnian history, current affairs and its future delivered by professor Lamija Tanovic.  My area of interest is the case of failed and failing states, which make the lecture even more interesting due to a fact that Bosnia is one of the few failing states in Europe. The situation in Bosnia is really difficult since the war; country is basically divided into two separate countries inhabited by differed ethnical groups. Case of failure of Bosnia is unique among other failing states, because the main reason of its failure are social issues that cause many other problems making this country a failing state. For me the interesting part about failure of Bosnia is the fact that it starts failing after the UN has established new governmental rules and although EU advisors are present in Bosnia its still failing. Two relevant international organizations still can’t improve the situation in the country that really can kill the hope for any improvement among the people of Bosnia but for professor Tanovic that is the moment when NGOs and some active Bosnian citizens can take action and try to improve things that great international powers can’t. Professor was full of hope that the situation in her country will get better and she is doing everything that she can to make it happened. Before the war, professor Tanovic, was a successful scientist but after the military action ceased she became interested in politics and started to do whatever is necessary to make Bosnia united and strong. During her speech I’ve realized what does it really mean to be an up stander, she could have left the country at any moment and live in some other country pursuing her scientific career, but when she realizes what is the situation of the country she decided to stay and do as much as she can to help her nation rise from the problems that it has.

In the evening we decided to go out to the town to see what it’s like. Since I knew that Bosnia is a failing state I’ve imagined Sarajevo to be much more destroyed than it really is. It is a regular city with dreadful history, full of people trying to live as normal as it is possible. So we’ve sat in the bar and continue to talk to each other trying to get to know our cultural differences, but the important question is can we overcome them?
- Antoni Teodorczyk (Polish Fellow)