The survey I have given to the students of all schools is in the form of a history test consisting out of eight questions. The first five questions are mentioned most of the time in the textbooks, while the last three questions are very subjective and measure the ethnonationalist feelings of the children. The students of the primary school in Tesanjka did not mind whether
written in the Latin alphabet, they decided to complete the survey in the same alphabet. I have worked out every question according to the answers that have been given by the class. For each answer that had been provided, I have calculated the percentage of the class that has given that particular answer and established whether any ethnonationalist influence is visible in the given answer. For some of the questions students were able to write down multiple answers. The answers to the questions are presented below.
1. When did the war start in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
1 April 1992 48% Bosniak influence
6 April 1992 36% Neutral
The year 1992 16% Neutral
All answers that have been given could have been found in the textbook they use. Both the 1st of April and the 6th of April 1992 have been mentioned as the beginning of the war in BiH. The children that have mentioned the 1st of April 1992 show a Bosniak influence, while the children that have mentioned the 6th of April or simply the year 1992 show a more neutral influence, as the 6th of April 1992 has been marked as the official start of the war in BiH (Filipovic, 2002).
2. How did the war start in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
When “Arkanovci” (Arkan’s Tigers- Serb Volunteer guard) occupied the city Bijeljina
64% Bosniak influence
Because the Yugoslav National Army started mobilizing the army and only the Serbs responded to this mobilization
4% Bosniak influence
When the Yugoslav National Army together with the Serbian
Democratic party of Radovan Karadzic attacked Sarajevo
8% Bosniak influence
Because of multiple conflicts and incidents leading up to the war
8% Neutral
As a consequence of BiH’s independence
8% Neutral
Again, all of these answers have been mentioned in the textbook the students use. In total, 76% of the students have written down an answer that represents a Bosniak influence on their perception of history, while only 16% of the class mentioned more neutral answers without a direct blame on the Serbs.
3. Which countries have helped Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war? (The students could have given multiple answers)
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
Germany 96%
Netherlands 80%
Italy 68%
‘Arab countries’ 48% Bosniak influence
Croatia 44% Croat influence
Switzerland 44%
Turkey 32% Bosniak influence
Austria 24%
Sweden 8%
United States of America 8%
France 4%
Belgium 4%
From the textbook students could have concluded that the Netherlands has helped through the creation of the ICTY or that the USA has helped with the Dayton Peace Agreements. The answers provided by the children show an influence beyond the textbook, where many countries can be considered as neutral answers. Many students did elaborate by saying that the countries they had written down accepted many refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
4. In what way did the UN contribute to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina? (Multiple answers could have been given)
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
By providing humanitarian help
52% Neutral
By sending weapons 4% Neutral
By placing an embargo on the import of weapons
36% Neutral
UN contributed negatively because the embargo only had effects on BiH – other countries still received weapons
4% Bosniak influence
By creating safe zones 8% Neutral
By creating international cooperation
Not answered 8% -
Except for the answers ‘by sending weapons’ and ‘creating international cooperation’, all answers could have been found in the textbook. 4% of the class directly blamed the UN for the negative effects of the embargo. Even though the textbook was rather sarcastic about the safe zones created by UNPROFOR, 8% of the class did mention the safe zones as a
contribution by the UN.
5. What was the aim of the Dayton Peace Agreements? (Multiple answers could have been given)
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
To end the war 92% Neutral
To divide Bosnia and Herzegovina and to divide the people
12% Bosniak influence
The division of Bosnia and the end of the war have both been mentioned in the textbook. However, the division of BiH and the people shows a rather ethnonationalist influence, as Bosniaks did not want BiH to be divided in separate entities. Division was only the goal of Serbia and Croatia (Filipovic, 2002).
6. According to you, could the war have ended in a different way? How? (Multiple answers could have been given)
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
No 56% Neutral
Yes (without specifying) 8% Neutral
By expelling the Serbs from BiH
4% Bosniak influence
The war could have ended much worse all Muslims could have been killed
4% Bosniak influence
War could have ended through an agreement with less violence
20% Neutral
Both the presidents and the citizens could have put in more efforts to understand each other
4% Neutral
7. In your opinion, who has gained most during the war?
Given answers Percentage of students Ethnonationalist influence
Serbia 24% Bosniak influence
The Serb Republic 12% Bosniak influence
No one 36% Neutral
BiH because they were able to defend their territory
8% Bosniak influence
The ‘opposite’ side 4% Neutral
Not answered 16% - 8. In your opinion, who has lost most during the war?
Given answers Ethnonationalist influence
Bosnia and Herzegovina 92% Bosniak influence
Everybody 4% Neutral
Not answered 4% -
These three questions have been very subjective and the answers could not have been found in the textbook. The answers to question 7 and question 8 show a very strong Bosniak
ethnonationalist influence as 92% of the class believes that BiH has lost most during the war, and a little over a third of the class thought that Serbia and the Serb Republic have gained most during the war.