"Institutionally guided" repatriation versus "spontaneous" return of refugees. A comparison of repatriation strategies and their results in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract
The paper wants to present different strategic approaches within the framework of the repatriation of refugees in the Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina. The attention is paid to a comparison of two most frequent approaches: institutionally implemented repatriation that was directed from the position of the ""international community"" and cooperating organisations (the UNHCR in particular), and a totally spontaneous effort: refugees' return without any major involvement and support of international institutions.
Using the example of partial enquiries in several selected cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Drvar, Foča, Zvornik, Prijedor and Sanski Most), both the strong and weak features of the two strategies are presented. An evaluation is made of their impact in the form of real results of the general repatriation successfulness.