Justyna Pilarska1; 1 UNIVERSITY OF WROCLAW, Poland
Discussion
This presentation focuses on Sarajevo as a case study of a divided and yet, multicultural city relying on own research project “Sarajevo’s locus educandi. A case study”. As a consequence of Dayton Peace Agreement signed in 1995 Bosnia-Herzegovina appears internally split into the two entities of Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS); at local level the administrative line divides two areas that before the war constituted a unique urban system: Sarajevo, including the historical neighbourhoods of the city and part of FBiH, and Eastern Sarajevo, a suburban area now included in the territory of RS. The power of separation can be further acknowledged by looking at the symbolical connotation of urban landscape. Despite the division is not marked by any artefact, the intentional use of symbols and signs across the boundary selectively celebrates specific collective identities simultaneously neglecting the presence of the counterpart. Sometimes for the sake of the common past cross-cultural heritage, at times for the sake of deepening the divisions. Such changes within the built environment have to some extent influenced inhabitants’ daily life and collective representations. This presentation will focus on such daily experiences of the city inhabitants, its social and cultural capital, also exploring spatial practices and intercultural communication taking place in various locations of the city.
