English Literature & Creative Writing
Inherited Consequences: The Effects of the War on Bosnian Young People Born after the War
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
English Literature & Creative Writing
Start Date
13-4-2018 9:15 AM
End Date
13-4-2018 10:15 AM
Sponsor
Heather Fielding (Purdue University Northwest)
Description
In 1995, war in Bosnia ceased and the journey towards normalcy began. After the tragedy of war was over, the city of Sarajevo left dismantled, the rebuilding began. With the physical rebuilding of the city, the population also began to grow. New generations were born before the graves were filled. In this study, I look at the effects of the war on Bosnians born after the war had ended. The rebuilders of the city had children that never saw war but inevitably experienced it in vastly different ways. This research was conducted during the fall of 2017 while I was in Sarajevo, Bosnia for a semester. Through this research, I saw that war looks different to a person that never experienced it firsthand, but the secondhand war effects can be just as life altering if not addressed appropriately. These secondhand effects come in the form of low-quality education, unemployment, oppressive expectations, and a mindset that says nothing can be worse than war so fighting for anything more is futile and dangerous. A generation of motivated optimists are thwarted by the generations around them telling them to be careful not to stir the pot or act in a way that could justify war. The generations that were raised by war survivors and PTSD stricken veterans are paralyzed by fear-- not their own fear, but the fear that permeates around them. The fear of war has percolated up through the generations of Bosnians since the war, stunting growth in any direction.
Inherited Consequences: The Effects of the War on Bosnian Young People Born after the War
Indianapolis, IN
In 1995, war in Bosnia ceased and the journey towards normalcy began. After the tragedy of war was over, the city of Sarajevo left dismantled, the rebuilding began. With the physical rebuilding of the city, the population also began to grow. New generations were born before the graves were filled. In this study, I look at the effects of the war on Bosnians born after the war had ended. The rebuilders of the city had children that never saw war but inevitably experienced it in vastly different ways. This research was conducted during the fall of 2017 while I was in Sarajevo, Bosnia for a semester. Through this research, I saw that war looks different to a person that never experienced it firsthand, but the secondhand war effects can be just as life altering if not addressed appropriately. These secondhand effects come in the form of low-quality education, unemployment, oppressive expectations, and a mindset that says nothing can be worse than war so fighting for anything more is futile and dangerous. A generation of motivated optimists are thwarted by the generations around them telling them to be careful not to stir the pot or act in a way that could justify war. The generations that were raised by war survivors and PTSD stricken veterans are paralyzed by fear-- not their own fear, but the fear that permeates around them. The fear of war has percolated up through the generations of Bosnians since the war, stunting growth in any direction.