Book presentation “Citizens, Constitution, Europe“
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is at a critical point regarding the debate over its constitutional and political system. However, the Constitution of BiH is a part of a framework peace agreement adopted as a result of international intervention and of unknown constitution-makers which has consequences for the understanding of the constitutional and political system of BiH. The academic community struggles to come to terms with the intricacies of the system, and the difficulties for ordinary citizens can only be assumed. This is the underlying reason for this Glossary: The Glossary shall explain the essential constitutional concepts not only to academics from different fields but also to citizens.
One important challenge was that the academic approaches in the academic community of BiH tend to be quite different. To address this challenge, the Editorial Board adopted a pluralistic approach as well as a methodology which included a team debate and the collective identification of the concepts treated in the Glossary.
This resulted in 35 entries that include, for example, constituent peoples, entities, cantons, power-sharing, federalism, veto, European integration, a form of government, fundamental rights, etc. These were elaborated by small teams of two or more scholars who volunteered to write the entry together.
Besides the Glossary in local languages, the English translation makes the basic constitutional concepts accessible to foreigners as well. For example, the Glossary can be a useful tool and the first starting point for an international human rights activist, a diplomat newly appointed in BiH, an enthusiast interested in domestic constitutional law or just an interested and critical citizen.
Programme
13.00 Opening and Welcome
Prof. dr Rifat Škrijelj, Rector of the University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr Zinka Grbo, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo
HE Marco Di Ruzza, Ambassador of Italy in Sarajevo
13.30 Introduction to the CEI KEP BiH project
Prof. Tatjana Sekulić, University of Milano-Bicocca
Prof. Jens Woelk, University of Trento
13.45 The Method and the Contents of the Glossary
Prof. Maja Sahadžić, Utrecht University
Prof. Damir Banović, University of Sarajevo
Prof. Dražen Barbarić, University of Mostar
14.15 Discussion
