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"November, Dayton and Europe"

"Never before in Europe have so many people been linked together by so many ties and interdependencies. And yet, the more European countries become similar to one another in economic and technical terms, the more it's inhabitants feel endangered as far as their cultural identity is concerned, and want to be different from others."

The above text was written by academic Urs Altermatt and published in the EuroDialogue magazine in the beginning of 1997. Altermatt based much of his opinions and scientific proofs about nationalism, identity and intolerance on what happened during the wars in Ex-Yugoslavia. He presented the destruction and siege of Sarajevo as a case that was not isolated or new in Europe's history filled with tensions and hatred based on extreme nationalism.

While the European Community politicians were preparing for the implementation of the internal market and further integration of Europe many politicians in Yugoslavia did the opposite. Instead of integration they openly or closely propagated for disintegration. During the time of economic and political hardships they promoted myths,intolerance and fear. Also many expressed their anti-European stands. Croatian nationalist leader Franjo Tudjman considered European Union, just as Yugoslavia, to be a "liberal experiment" doomed to fail and something Croatia should not be a part of. In Serbia during the regime of Slobodan Milosevic being labeled as "European" was equally to be labeled as traitor or spy. Such politicians promised to their voters that better future and quality of life only could be found behind the national boarders.

Altermatts words can be regarded as much up-to-date for today's situation in the EU. The economic, social and institutional crisis since the 2008 have contributed to rise of nationalism, racism, anti-democratic and other intolerant attitudes which grew fast in combination with unemployment, social dissatisfaction and uncertainty for the future. This has also resulted in lower support for further integration and union-building. Many responses towards the crisis have often been based on promoting national ideas and pride. “Orbanism” in Hungary and right- or left-wing populism as in Greece or United Kingdom are clear examples.

The situation within the union is not easy at the moment being challenged by the unemployment, lack of growth, Russia's aggression against Ukraine, migration crisis, Brexit, etc. Integration of Western Balkans is another issue where the European institutions are struggling. Among the biggest challenges is Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state which for many functions as "three states in one".

It has been 20 years since Dayton agreement was signed and today many would say that Dayton stopped the war in the trenches but the war is still going on, in politics and without blood. For many citizens in Bosnia the membership in the union is seen as a possibility and potential to improve things within the the society, everything from economy and finances to institutional framework, regional peace and education.

Despite being a democratic society the system in BiH is still mainly based and functioning across the ethnic lines. The country is affected by problems such as corruption in politics, lack of federal power structure and lack of civic society. For BiH there is much to learn from Europe when it comes to organizing democratic society based on individuals rights and freedoms, rule of law and interdependent institutions. At the same time I want to argue that for Europe there are some things to learn from BiH and Ex-Yugoslavia.

November is also a month when the last Yugoslav prime minister Ante Markovic died in 2011. In the time of crisis Markovic was ambitious into transforming Yugoslavia into a democratic society and market economy. During his reform period he was supported by the Bush administration and Delores commission. However his actions was sabotaged by nationalistic elites in the republics, especially in Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia who did not wanted reforms for having a more open, inclusive and free society.

Markovics conclusion was that improving economy was not enough to reform and preserve Yugoslavia. He realized that democratic transformation was about shaping democracy based on multi-level governance from the federal- to local level. The political movement started by him , the liberal reform alliance , aimed for gathering support based on civic and not nationalistic rhetoric. Despite the electoral defeat and also the collapse of the state he managed to prove that it was possible to influence politics by gaining support from individuals who in the first place did not cared about their ethnic or national identities but about the civic based ideology.

Many reforms are needed if our union is going to be able to function and get improved in the future. However it is not only about the further integration of the single market and the "renatioanlziation" as David Cameron is advocating. There is a need for more developed European democracy when it comes to demos, citizenship and identity. Instead of a union where people are influencing power as Swedes, Latvians or Greeks, especially when it comes to decision-making within Council of ministers, there is a need an union where individuals can influence power as citizens.

BiH is a clear example of how fear, myths and hat can create divisions and distrust between people who often have more in common that is usually thought. That is why the European Union needs to transform into a union of citizens, for citizens and by the citizens. Also it is important to make it easier for individual to understand, legitimize and influence political power. And as Altermatt wrote in 1997 "in the sphere of economy and consumption, Europeans are adaptable in regard to one another, whereas in the area of culture there exists a peculiar type of rebellion against globalism.Citizens of different countries, afraid of losing their identity, isolate themselves from each other".

Improving the economy in the union is not going to be enough for the future. The real issues is about giving EU-citizens a sense of community and belonging in world's only supranational democracy. After 20 years of globalization and europeanization many challenges are supranational for the whole union and need to be addressed at the EU-level. As long the EU-citizens are limited to influence and legitimize political power at the union level it is going to make things harder for the union to function in the globalized world that we are living in.