Contradictions in Bosnia

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Louis:
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Louis: Bonner's article revealed to me that the Bosnian government is
quite possibly not the democratic and secular model that so many of its
advocates, like Christopher Hitchens, have asserted.

Chris B:
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Yes there have got to be a range of contradictions within it. You have
illustrated the extraordinary career of Abdic, from communist to
capitalist, to almost private warlord.

The power struggle within the Bosnian government between Silajdzic and
Izetbegovic, was rather overshadowed by the Croatian offensive, and by
the more important split within the Bosnian Serbs between Karadzic and
Mladic. But it is revealing and has class implications.

I draw from the London Guardian of 11th August:

"Mr Silajdzic announced a week ago that he would quit unless the ruling
Muslim Democratic Action Party of President Alija Izetbegovic bowed to
his authority.

But instead of winning the power struggle, he found his bluff being called
by the party leadership, which refused to agree to his demands and gave him
a week to decide whether he really wanted to go.

...

Sarajevo liberals - including Mr Silajdzic are increasingly disenchanted
with the style of the Democratic Action Party, which they accuse of
turning Bosnia into a one-party regime and imposing close control of
all key institutions.

'The Bosnian government will face great credibility problems if Silajdzic
is sacked,' a western diplomat said earlier yesterday. 'Sarajevo would also
be losing one of is best fund-raisers.' Liberal Bosnian officials agreed
that the departure of the former academic could damage Bosnia's relations
with the West.

...

Mr Izetbegovic - closely identified with the clericalist Islamic wing of the
Muslim National Pqrty - made moves to ensure that, at least in wartime,
a Muslim heads the collective multi-ethnic presdency.

The parliament backed him against Mr Silajdzic, who is the foremost Muslim
exponent of a liberal, non-ethnic dispensation. Non-muslims said the move
was antidemocratic.

...

Personal vanities and ambitions also play a sizable role in the crisis,
with Mr Silajdzic seeking to blunt the growing influence of Muhamad
Sacirbey, the young US-educated foreign minister, who is close to
Mr Izetbegovic.

...

Mr Silajdzic, aged 50, served as foreign minister before becoming
prime minister 20 months ago. He is widely credited with helping
to establish the Muslim-Croat federation in Bosnia against strong
resistance from Muslim nationalists.

But while he is popular in Sarajevo and respected abroad, he lacks
any real power base."



Comment:

To be honest, I am not sure how we analyse this in marxist terms.
We need more information, especially like where the money comes from.

We are trying to equate political positions that have emerged
in a chaotic situation with the collapse of a form of socialism,
with the objective interests of particular classes or groups.
Confusion, ideology and personal ambition add to the
complexity.

Nevertheless broadly I think we can see three poles, or at least two
of three poles:

1) a simplistic bourgeois nationalist position, that
is relevant when the people most feel they have their back to the wall
(muslim nationalist)

2) a more "enlightened" liberal bourgois position, more conducive
to the educated middle class of a European city, with expectations
about business and commerce that are partly international, and which
sees the importance of co-operating with some sort of US brokered peace
deal including a muslim-croat federation.

3) the position we cannot see but we know is there: a marxist position,
opposing any form of national oppression and endeavouring to promote
the interests of the working class independent of nationality.
I would expect this third position to have more in common with
position 2 than position 1.


A progressive outcome, or a least reactionary outcome,
depends on struggle between these forces within Bosnia too. That is the
task of the progressive forces within Bosnia. At the same time, those of
us outside the country, have to take a broad view of the state of affairs.

Some forces are pressing for a multi-ethnic Bosnia. That in global terms
is more favourable to working class unity than Greater Serbian
map-redrawing, further population expulsions, and a rump little muslim
state sandwiched between Croatian and Serbian territory. I think we
should support a multi-ethnic solution, while staying somewhat aloof
from rivalry say between Salajdzic and Sacirbey.





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