In BiH, the census is political – a number is not Muslim, Orthodox, or Catholic

It is painful to watch all sorts of experts explaining the results of the population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina in various ways. Some of them accept the results, some dispute them, and both sides do so to be in the good graces of a certain political circle.

How many Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats are there? This is a political question, not a question of demography or statistical analysis. These are three numbers that, along with some other numbers, give the total sum of Bosnians and Herzegovinians. The problem is that various historical, national, ethnic, religious, and other characteristics are attributed to this number, which the number itself does not possess. A number is neither green, nor red, nor blue, nor is it Muslim, Orthodox, or Catholic.

So how is it possible that so much attention is paid to its derived characteristics?

The answer is very simple – politics and political entities have always counted "blood cells", but today they do it institutionally and call it a vital national interest.

It is always about the social identity that is being promoted, and the evidence is always politically derived from context.

All evidence taken as relevant in establishing a certain identity is one-sided and aimed at proving differences, never similarities, although it can also be used for that purpose.

The political prism implies drawing conclusions based on the generalization and relativization of individuals, who, if they understood what it was about, would never agree to be classified into a certain group.

Observing Bosnia and Herzegovina and the people who live here, we can conclude that they share a common history, customs, ethnic origin, culture, cultural artifacts, and language. What distinguishes them is religious affiliation. It is precisely this difference that has served as the blueprint for the political consolidation of social identities that are hostile to everything that "others" have incorporated into the common culture.

How is it possible to claim that the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque is not the cultural heritage of Serbs and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

How is it possible to claim that the Old Orthodox Church in Baščaršija is not the cultural heritage of Bosniaks and Croats?

How is it possible to claim that the Cathedral in Sarajevo is not the cultural heritage of Bosniaks and Serbs?

All the listed monuments are the cultural heritage of Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By language, Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina are one people; by culture, customs, origin – also one people. By ethnic affiliation, they are the same people. However, there is a huge number of political constructs that, based on reductionism, create artificial divisions, and no one has questioned them.

Let's go in order:

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina a multi-ethnic state? Essentially, it is not, because it is about one ethnic group that has inhabited these areas for centuries and shares common genes.

Is Bosnian society multicultural? It is not, because culture has been formed both independently and under the influence of conquerors, but it is ours.

Do customs differ within Bosnia and Herzegovina? There are geographical specificities, but the fact that customs are recognized by all people in that area speaks in favor of it being a unified social group.

This is how society should be viewed normally, because the existing differences are proof of a nation's strength, not a reason for division.

How we ended up in the position we are in, we should ask politicians, because only they understand how it is impossible to be a Bosnian and Herzegovinian, but it is possible to be a Bosniak, a Serb, and a Croat?

The explanation is simple. Politics does not choose its means to achieve its goal, and the goal is power. The best power is that based on the fear of an enemy who is just like you, and lurking just around the corner. That is the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

So, the census has no other purpose than political. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the census will not be used for development strategies where census parameters are necessary. No one is interested in which age group is most represented, what the educational potential is, how many people are of working age, and a host of other data that will be important for our future, for the economy, industry, agriculture, what the demand for energy, food, education, etc. will be. We are only interested in how many Muslims, Orthodox, and Catholics there are, and based on that, how much the national parties, which present themselves as protectors of the vital interests of these groups, will be able to squander these few remaining resources, based on the principle of parity.

It is simply impossible that there is absolutely nothing that is in the interest of all citizens of this country.