Managing mass migration after the war: The case of Sarajevo’s unification in 1996

‘Exodus’: The Serb flight from Sarajevo, its legacy, and its role in the political memory of Republika Srpska

“…As we can observe in these excerpts, the emotional, tense and resentful language that emanated from the charged atmosphere reflected a great deal of frustration for which the IC was blamed. However, these statements quite accurately reflect anxieties expressed by interviewed Sarajevan Serbs (Žíla, 2022a).…”

“…Similar threats circulated in the FBiH media as well. There was no choice but to leave because an air of inevitability had been cultivated (Žíla, 2022a). Scholars largely agree that the RS leaders bear the main responsibility for orchestrating, manipulating and forcing Serb people to leave (Donia, 2006; Sell, 1999; Toal & Dahlman, 2011).…”

“…Scholars largely agree that the RS leaders bear the main responsibility for orchestrating, manipulating and forcing Serb people to leave (Donia, 2006; Sell, 1999; Toal & Dahlman, 2011). However, recent research (Golubović, 2021; Pupovac, 2020; Žíla, 2021, 2022a) has pointed to Izetbegović's statements and policies, which prompted fears of retribution. While Izetbegović's leadership formally announced that Serbs would be allowed to remain in the reintegrated city, no preference was shown for those who lived in the areas under VRS control.…”

“…That is the reason why they left’ (Israeli, 2020b, p. 800). Such rhetoric propelled the fear that was amplified by intentionally spread half‐truths and rumours (Žíla, 2022a). As a result, it helped promote extensive anxiety among Sarajevan Serbs, who felt deeply frightened and insecure due to their ambiguous wartime engagements (Golubović, 2021).…”

“…The international community (IC), which represents actors under the dominant US/Western‐European umbrella, the Bosniak leadership and those Sarajevans who survived the siege, considered the DPA's order to reintegrate the city to be a legitimate return. These actors viewed the flight of the Sarajevan Serbs as confirmation that the Serbs felt guilty, undeserving of compassion, and thus were not interested in their post‐war plight (Golubović, 2021; Žíla, 2022a, 2022b). In contrast, the RS leadership highlighted the external circumstances that forced Sarajevan Serbs to leave their homes.…”