ESAD DURAKOVIĆ Bosniak identity and/or Bosnian identity

By Esad Duraković

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In the Bosnian-Herzegovinian public, especially among Bosniaks, a dilemma is emerging which is artificial in its essence and multiply counterproductive. This dilemma is expressed in the title of this text: Bosniak identity and/or Bosnian identity. Namely, it seems that not a small number of people think that these two concepts, or categories, mutually exclude each other, especially that the affirmation of Bosnian identity hinders the affirmation of Bosniak identity as an ethnic one. In this context, it is emphasized – and this is a peculiarity of the BiH context – that the other two constituent peoples (Serbs and Croats) are developing their ethnic identity optimally, even to the point of antagonism, and that the Bosniaks' supposed "lag" in this regard is harmful, and that their affirmation of Bosnian identity is presented as national betrayal, national unawareness, and so on. Such an understanding of things is fundamentally wrong.

Before further explanation, I must underline a "formula" that should be kept in mind throughout my exposition on this topic.

Bosniaks in BiH are in a state where they are not a minority but a constituent and even majority people, in a state that is, therefore, also theirs. Serbs and Croats are also constituent peoples in BiH, with the caveat that they physically/geographically lean on "their" "mother" countries, with a mutual tendency (in the official policies of Belgrade and Zagreb and their outposts in BiH, which I never equate with the peoples as a whole) towards unification, the result of which would inevitably be the partition and destruction of BiH as a state. Bosniaks are not in the same situation and are therefore particularly, even fatefully, motivated to defend the state of BiH, which means defending Bosnian identity as a category of statehood. Of course, they should do this together with Serbs and Croats who are not under the influence of the current aggressive policies from Belgrade and Zagreb, because Bosnia (BiH) can survive as such only if it is multi-ethnic. It is a tragic delusion to believe that it is possible, or that it should be done – according to some symmetry – to create a Bosniak state entity, some kind of Bosniakstan. In this geopolitical and ideological context, it would inevitably be the creation of a Bosniak Gaza, which would be a complete tragedy for Bosniaks. 

Therefore, the point is that Bosniaks can survive only within the framework of BiH, and they can achieve this only with the other peoples in it, who still see it, feel it as their homeland. Simply put, but accurately stated: There is no BiH without Bosniaks, nor is there survival for Bosniaks without BiH. This is a paradigm that every Bosniak, as well as Bosnian policy, must have as its irreplaceable platform. Furthermore, in politically healthy and logically consistent thinking, this means that BOSNIAK IDENTITY IS INCORPORATED INTO BOSNIAN IDENTITY, that nurturing Bosnian identity – as a state-building, political, not ethnic consciousness – is an imperative that ensures and contains both ethnic and state-political identity.

There is also a tendency (especially among Bosniaks) to abandon the designation Bosniak and, INSTEAD, accept the designation Bosnian, as a marker of ethnic affiliation. Proponents of this initiative draw support from certain periods of history. However, in a historical period, due to historical circumstances, two concepts differentiated: BOSNIA and BOSNIAK. Thus, a new reality has historically emerged. If Bosniaks were to renounce their ethnic name Bosniak and "replace" it with the designation Bosnian, they would then remain in an "ethnic vacuum" – nobody and nothing – while the other two peoples would retain their ethnic names Croat and Serb. Finally, Serbs, Croats, and other peoples – according to the logic of the proponents of this idea/initiative – could not be Bosnians since this would be a name "reserved" for the renamed Bosniaks. The matter is, in fact, very simple: since BiH is multi-ethnic, and since this is a conditio sine qua non for its survival, it is composed, among others, of three peoples (Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats), and Bosnian is a designation of nationality in the sense of statehood, so they are all together BOSNIANS. 

The delusion of many people is in thinking that the categories of Bosnian identity and Bosniak identity mutually exclude each other, while things are precisely the opposite, and this should be interpreted: these categories ensure each other – in both directions and with exceptional dynamism.

There are different types of identities that even a single person or society has, and these identities do not mutually exclude each other but are built upon each other in complementarity: ethnic, state/national, religious, traditional, racial, gender, etc. Thus, Bosniaks can be – and are – ethnically Bosniaks; most of them (not all) are Muslims, at the same time they are Bosnians in their state-national identity, they inherit a European identity, etc. 

In the relationship between Bosniak identity and Bosnian identity, I will use the term PREVALENCE here, emphasizing that prevalence does not mean annulment, negation, etc., but the opposite. To prevail does not mean that something is annulled (here: Bosniak identity) but that it is affirmed and then positively contained within something "next" – here in Bosnian identity; it is about superstructure, about a certain higher level of positivity in which both the "previous" and the "new" mutually affirm each other. Therefore, the affirmation of Bosnian identity in no way means the negation or abandonment of ethnic identity – neither Bosniak, nor Serbian, nor Croatian. Even if you wanted to, you cannot give up your ethnic identity, because you simply are what you are; this type of identity is part of your tradition, environment, collective memory, even collective unconscious (to use K. G. Jung's terms), etc. Even the mere fact that you might be renouncing something testifies that you actually are it, and your renunciation is mere verbalization. Identity (especially ethnic) is not a pair of old shoes that you can just discard. After all, it is also a matter of self-respect.

For at least a quarter of a century, BiH has been exposed to a double political aggression based on ethnicity to the point of extreme antagonism. It is simultaneously exposed to internal destruction that uses ethnicity as the most effective energy for breaking/destroying the state of BiH as a complete triumph of internal ethnic antagonism and parallel, simultaneous ethnic homogenization with neighboring countries. Therefore, the "perfection" of ethnicisms is in direct function of thwarting Bosnian identity, destroying the state of BiH. Bosniaks (not all, of course) fall for this paradigm, or fall into this trap, because by the principle of symmetry they consider the affirmation of Bosnian identity to be an expression of ethnic inferiority compared to Serbian and Croatian ethnicity, which HERE has a different position and perspective. Therefore, insistence on ethnicity everywhere and at all costs is disintegrating in relation to the statehood of BiH. The ethnicisms here, stretched to fatal antagonisms, are the main generator of the crisis and the greatest threat to the survival of the state. Persistence on ethnicity as the highest and ultimate achievement is equivalent to nationalism, which always – as such – contains destructive aspects of self-interest, self-sufficiency, supremacy in relation to other ethnicities, etc. This is a sure path to conflict, to disintegration. 

Awareness of ethnic affiliation and value should prevail (i.e., without renouncing that identity!) over the awareness of national identity in the sense of statehood. In the ultimate and saving consequences, this is the path to a new identity – CITIZEN identity – which does not negate national identity, but all nationalists fear this "new" identity because it deprives them of the main argument for mutual confrontations from which only political elites profit. In our circumstances, in our political context, the loudest proponents of ethnicity are usually its biggest beneficiaries.

Therefore, the "dilemma" of Bosniak identity or Bosnian identity counts on – in our political context! – that Bosniaks too will always and everywhere insist on being Bosniak, which is precisely what (Greater) Serbian and (Greater) Croatian ethno-nationalisms want: to break up BiH along ethnic lines, which would lead Bosniaks to the terrible fate of Palestinian Gaza. 

To be an aware Bosniak means to be Bosnian. And vice versa.