Forced transitions. New settlements of displaced persons after the war (1992-1995) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Resum

The research is inspired by traumatic experience of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), the process of being a refugee and beginning of a new life marked by re-construction of living space (family house / home, neighborhood and city) in a new place of residence. The process also forms a part of experience for almost half of the Bosnian population being refugees or internally displaced persons and forming the cultural context for changes in territory, in the last 20 years. The experience, which is still present in everyday discourse, has caused a number of different processes and procedures. On the other hand, these are not exclusive characteristics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The changes in political, social, economic, and cultural system, as well as system of values, migration process and new spatial transformations are also part of general narrative globally, which in real-time changes the image of the world, territory and life. Thus, the conflicts, migrations and follow up changes have huge consequences of identitary process, cultural and urban space, which are subjects of multiple transformations. By focusing only on the spatial ones, the basic subject of this research represents the problem of transformation of identity issue in territory. The phenomena of re-territorialisation, ethnic homogenisation and new construction is observed in relation to three elements - identity, context and space - which are seen as integrally related. Abstract concept of spatial identity is understood in integration with collective and cultural identity which arise one from another and complement each other. Thus an essential feature of the context is defined by cultural space as the result of various historical, political, economic, social, geographical and other conditions. The thesis was developed on the hypothesis that the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) has strongly changed the life of people and structure of the territory. The focus is on the migration dynamics of internally displaced persons, which have resulted in the patterns of forming new settlements for displaced persons and new coordinates of everyday life. In the newly constructed settlements the project observes the impact of divided cultural identities. In contrary to the war consequences, the general restructure of space, society and culture, according to which spatial changes have emerged (re - territorialisation, homogenization, re - organization and re - identification), a mix of different conflicted cultures still exists. This kind of specific identity which deprives warfare of any sense shows that, despite of different divisions (religious, political, ethnic, national, social, entity, cultural), a "common" cultural space (history, language, culture, art) still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in that scope it is possible to find common ground for the future. The concept of "forced displacements" of certain physical and cultural patterns of habiting from one place to another is reflected (represents) a new construction of life and culture, which emerge in accordance with previous and inherited forms of life. Ethnic divisions, population exchange, restructuring of socio-political, economical and cultural system, as well as the construction of new urban typologies are defined as the process of transition of spatial identities. Elements of the transition are: map of transition, matrix of new construction and map of identities. The process of transformation of identity issues in territory is identified in the atlas of spaces, which combines layers of analysis, confirms their causal relationship and opens up a wide field of other topics. Construction of new types of settlements (spatial typologies) includes (1) new spatial forms in the process of formation or transformations (new urban territories as city regions, urban corridors, drained hinterlands); and (2) new urban forms (new urban interpolations, new neighborhoods, new cities founded and new ethno villages). In the newly constructed urban neighbourhoods of the post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina, the project observes the impact of the divided cultural identities. Research reveals the specific patterns of development of new settlements of displaced persons in the specific context of post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. By studying cultural context of different exceptional examples, this research attempts to understand the logic of spatial transformations. The analysis is indicating the existence of a complex system of identities that participate in the physical and imaginary construction of the area. Acceptance of the rich diversity identities of these spaces should contribute to a better understanding of the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as mutual reconciliation and integration. Defining new settlements should contribute to better conditions for everyday life and future development of the area. Through the observation of three different case studies, contextual and historical relation, and bringing in the relationship with other patterns of development, research should enable the analysis, understanding and definition of the observed spatial transformation in a broader context. Methodology is defined as a kind of multi-disciplinary jump-cut montage, which integrates the movement and the transition from shot to shot, allowing the formation of the unity from a variety of fragments. This research is designed as a case study on three spatial scales - neighbourhood; village and city, three levels: cultural, social and spatial; on and on three approaches: personal experience of direct participant in the process, theoretical, and in a kind of practical, observing phenomenon through the lenses of formal–informal and personal–general. Observed period of 20 years is the period from the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) towards the present (2015). The first case study is marked by the author's personal experience of direct participant in the process of new construction of neighbourhood, as the most common form of the process, with the key position of the research and detailed analysis. The other two cases are characterized by their exception, but also by a very clear form of 'identity' transformation in a new spatial program. Regardless of differences, all three spatial manifestations operate as representatives of the widespread typology responding to the concept set. Although the research is not very much theoretical, and remain on appearances of many subjects, which opens for the first time, it especially discuss growth, development and the social structure of the city, as well as cultural and spatial identity. Considering the concept of new construction of settlements, the research examines historical review of the subject, dealing with definition, ways of forming, as well as with planning and development of new cities. The review of a series of alternative models of urban growth and development of cities (program growths, fragmented extensions, and duplications) showing that the phenomena of new is nothing new as well as showing different scales and concepts of modernization. The same is showing historical review of a new city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing us to consider contemporary territorial and urban changes as a continuous and never-ending process. "New city" experience has been emerging after every change of socio-political and cultural pattern, which were many. The Bosnian and Herzegovinian city was emerging as The first town, Oriental-Balkan town, "European" town (Austro-Hungarian and Bannate town) and Socialist town. In a way, discontinuity of the time in the space is constantly re-establishing. Thus, the permanence of a new, forms a historical connection with the construction of new settlements in the newly formed context. Except of morphological genesis of the city, the research is based on the claim that the space always marks the milieu of social practice, that the city is the product of presence and activities of people, as well as the specific times and cultures. Due to its divided histories, opposing views and conflicting identities, the seriously "wounded" cultural space had to be presented without political references, incomplete truths, and the war propaganda. The extremely complex context is analyzed through different lenses, in order to be presented honestly, clearly and objectively. Analysis has had an anthropological and artistic approach, which delved deep into the culture without neglecting its other components such as: historical, political, economic and others. For this purpose, indirect approach has been used, which is the contemporary art of Bosnia and Herzegovina (literature, film, visual arts, music) dealing with identitary and spatial issues. This way, the space is interpreted as the result of cultural systems, as the specific space "in-between" which is tragic, absurd and conflicted, the space of politics, of dilemma, of doubt, and in a way - imaginary impossible. Re - territorialisation and homogenization of Bosnia and Herzegovina has emerged as a result of this cultural context, the war, migrations and the transition of cultural and spatial identity has emerged. New form of spaces, which previously did not exist in this scale, are defined as new settlements or a new transitional territory/city. The case study is performed on the three types of new settlements - Česma-Mađir neighborhood, Banja Luka - the most dominant type of a new city and the main emphasis of the research; ethno-village Stanišići, Bijeljina and the city of Istočno Sarajevo. The analysis followed the concept of transition of spatial identities including map of transition, matrix of new construction and map of identities focusing on sayings and testimonies of agents of construction, urban structure and relation of identities. Česma-Mađir - informal neighborhood is developed on the periphery of the city of Banja Luka, the second largest city in B-H. Although it has not been exposed to the war directly, the city has suffered huge changes in demographic and urban structure. In a two-way process of refugees and ethnic exchange of population, almost half of the city population has been changed. Dozens of residential areas of individual housing are being developed mostly by informal urban factory. The case examines the role of the group of refugees, IDPs and their families, operating in a kind of synchronized process, using the same patterns in the same period, the same place and more or less same tools in resolving urgent problem of "roof over the head," by self-constructing their houses, neighborhood and new coordinates of everyday life. Residents have "taken the matter into their own hands", they acted outside of the system, so the neighborhood was 'planned' and built directly on the site. Deconstruction on basic elements of analysis is supported with a demographic analysis, as well as with a set of interviews and questionnaires conducted with the agents of informal urban fabric. Despite of informality, urban analysis shows some positive values such as: flexibility in self-organization of small spatial units, the use of interactive 'collective' space, gradual development, in-process housing construction as a kind of adopted traditional housing model and the way of living with certain inherited qualities. As such, the neighborhood has been recognized as a part of a new urban typology defined as the idea of the new city of Banja Luka, which is one of the conclusions and a kind of concept to be considered for the future. Construction of East Sarajevo has emerged as the war idea of the new city of Sarajevo on the other side of entity border, populated by Serbian refugees from Sarajevo. The case study is analyzing what happened with Sarajevo and its identity during and after the war, especially considering division of the city and construction of the new one. The emphasis is on the analysis of the formal urban fabric in which the city was built. The process followed the system of urban planning, while the main potential of construction were refugees and internally displaced persons. Although utopian, the idea is partly realized, so the new city was created next to the old one, on the former eastern outskirts of Sarajevo. Despite of megaloman idea of completely independent new city, East Sarajevo actually operates as part of the urban system of Sarajevo, while the planning and political discourse is going towards their integration. The painful subject of Sarajevo's spirit, as one of the basic elements of its identity is analyzed indirectly, through the popular culture, as well as through sayings of a number of important authors who have described Sarajevo's destiny mostly from the outside of the city - from all over the world. Ethno-village Stanišići emerged in the process of literal displacement of the physical structure from one (Brgule village, Vareš, Central Bosnia and Herzegovina) to another context (Novo Selo, Bijeljina, Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina). It emerged on the initiative of just one person - who is exclusively agent of construction, founder and owner of the 'village', who wanted to have a piece of his homeland, in the new place of residence. The study is getting close with the personal narrative of construction agent, analyzing this model and relations to the built identity. It shows possibilities that an individual exercises in the specific transitional context. Circumstances of this kind of spatial manifestation have been revealed, how it developed, what consequences it has for the participants of the process, as well as for spaces directly and indirectly involved and changes activated. It has been seen as a very clear form of the transformation of an 'identitary' process into the new spatial program. The study was set up so that the analysis itself represents results because the post-war space of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been observed and mapped in this way for the first time. It raises a number of unresolved issues and sets the basis for further research. Also, it covers a wide range of approaches and thus shows the necessity of multidisciplinary approach to the issues, which would allow better understanding of these complex processes. Unfortunately, the subject of the study is very actual and it has an universal value nowadays, considering that patterns defined can be useful to the contemporary and future processes of transition on the global level. Conclusions are drawing specific matrix of transition of each case studied as well as the general matrix of the process. The study is describing the life experience of the process of refugee and its relationship to the spatial transformations. In a way, it shows an intention to the reconciliation and desire for reconstruction of the common cultural space which depends on the will of the people and efforts of all parties involved, but also takes time dedicated to the process. By speaking about the identities, both spatial and cultural ones, there is no clear answer, especially in this kind of unique integral setting of the space and culture. There is no doubt that spatial identities of Bosnia and Herzegovina have changed in the last 20 years, because they are fragmented, dispersed, conflicted and opposite, at the same time new and different, complex and difficult. But in the same time there could still be found a common basis for their co-existence, co-living, a kind of integration, and hybridization as one of the greatest richness and advantages of the country. This requires confrontation with the past and mentality in the process towards the future, what could be general message of the research. Overall analysis shows that identity is more complex than just an ethnic one, that it was forced by the war and post-war politics.