Volu m e I - Purdue University Calumet

social harmony, but democracy in turn promotes civil society and group rights" (DeVries 9). Essentially there
is a reciprocal relationship in operation. The United States set on a course with the Dayton Accords toward
the creation of a stable, multi-ethnic society in Bosnia. Without the engagement of its citizenry, this goal will
remain elusive at best. The United States, as the world exemplar of democracy, leads by example and has
shown that a functioning civil society and corresponding civil engagement leads to effective governance. As a
matter of foreign policy, then, the United States recognizes the link between citizen apathy and
non-functional, non-responsive, and repressive states. In that sense, the lack of an inter-ethnic civil society in
Bosnia is a warning sign of dangers which lie ahead.
It is also important to note that many of the existing civil society organizations in Bosnia are extreme
and ethnically oriented. Further, several of these organizations retain obvious vestiges of the war in that they
include veteran's organizations and victims’ advocacy groups. The veterans are routinely involved in political
discourse and their status as veterans affords them an audience. The mothers' associations, who represent the
young men who were massacred during the genocide, lobby for the investigation of war crimes. Their goal is
closure for families by focusing on the particular events that happened to a family member rather than on the
broader significance of the conflict. Their efforts do function to bring to the public sphere details that many
wish to hide but, in fact, must be discussed in order for reconciliation to be achieved. This configuration of
civil society organizations poses obvious difficulties.
Additional civic groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina include religious organizations, sports clubs, arts
groups, labor unions, professional organizations, and those that foster general political participation. Some of
these organizations are Bosnian while others have connections to American parent organizations. For
example, the United States Catholic Relief Agency works directly with the Croat Catholic Church of Bosnia.
Similarly, the AFL/CIO works with Bosnian labor unions. Unfortunately, these organizations are pressed for
funds, operate in an often unsupportive environment, and find their efforts often underappreciated. While
these organizations hold the potential for great societal change, they are far from realizing their potential at
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