Echoing Divisions: Public Broadcasting System and Social Fragmentation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The post-conflict reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina is deeply influenced by the structures established by the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), which institutionalized ethnic divisions across political and social spheres. While significant attention has been given to governance and constitutional arrangements, the role of the media system in reflecting and reinforcing these divisions remains underexplored. The aim of this paper is to see how Bosnia and Herzegovina’s media system, particularly its public broadcasting structure, contributes to the perpetuation of ethnic fragmentation and political polarization, shaping the country’s divisive social landscape. Drawing on theories of media capture and ethnopolitical discourse, this paper examines the media’s dual function as both a mirror and a driver of societal cleavages. It critiques the public media’s departure from its normative role in fostering democratic dialogue and cohesion, positioning it as a mechanism for political control. Becoming a tool of political elites, the public media system in Bosnia and Herzegovina amplifies ethnopolitical narratives that sustain the fragmented structure institutionalized by the DPA. Rather than fostering national unity or democratic participation, the media system operates competitively across ethnic lines, perpetuating polarization and entrenching the status quo. Finally, the paper underlines that the public media system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not merely a reflection of broader societal divides but an active participant in their maintenance. Highlighting the media’s role in shaping ethnopolitical narratives, it contributes to a broader understanding of the interplay between media systems and post-conflict societal fragmentation while underscoring the need for reforms that challenge the entrenched influence of political elites, prioritizing public interest and democratic cohesion.