Defence reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina: between democratization and political deadlock

Bosnia and Herzegovina is still struggling with its institutional problems inherited from the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, its political leaders being unable to undertake the necessary reforms. However, previous reforms in the field of defence have been successfully carried out by Bosnian leaders. They were able to unify three previously conflicted armies, drastically reduce the amount of troops and make the whole sector more transparent. 

A retrospective overview of this reform unveils the conditions of this success and the way reforms should be engaged in the future. Indeed, the sector of Defence still faces significant issues and remains subject to political disputes. This is illustrated by questions such as integration to NATO, the destruction of surplus armament and the distribution of military assets inherited from the Yugoslav Federation.