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This chapter explores the evolving role of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tracing its shift from a security-assuring external actor to a catalyst for the construction of ethno-nationalist narratives by the political elites in Republika Srpska (RS). While the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) have played crucial roles in post-war security provision, the OHR's involvement in state-building has been a persistent point of contention. Initially, the OHR contributed to stability through the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). However, over time, the political elite in RS—particularly under the leadership of Milorad Dodik—have increasingly portrayed the OHR as a threat to the entity’s political autonomy. This chapter employs a theoretical framework of state-building and Europeanization, analyzing discourse in RS’s local media since 2008. It examines how reforms and European integration processes have been strategically leveraged to reinforce ethno-nationalist narratives, ultimately reshaping perceptions of the OHR in RS.

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The Changing Role of the Office of the High Representative (OHR): From State-Building Organization to Fuel for Ethno-Nationalists

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Faris Kočan,
  • Ana Bojinović Fenko,
  • Jure Požgan

摘要

This chapter explores the evolving role of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tracing its shift from a security-assuring external actor to a catalyst for the construction of ethno-nationalist narratives by the political elites in Republika Srpska (RS). While the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) have played crucial roles in post-war security provision, the OHR's involvement in state-building has been a persistent point of contention. Initially, the OHR contributed to stability through the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). However, over time, the political elite in RS—particularly under the leadership of Milorad Dodik—have increasingly portrayed the OHR as a threat to the entity’s political autonomy. This chapter employs a theoretical framework of state-building and Europeanization, analyzing discourse in RS’s local media since 2008. It examines how reforms and European integration processes have been strategically leveraged to reinforce ethno-nationalist narratives, ultimately reshaping perceptions of the OHR in RS.