The Fractured Peace: Human Security, Social Cohesion, and Educational Division in the Post-Conflict Western Balkans

Abstract

The post-Cold War era heralded the rise of the human security paradigm, shifting the focus of international concern from state-centric military threats to the well-being and dignity of individuals. This paper argues that the promise of this paradigm has been only partially fulfilled, particularly in post-conflict regions where the international order’s geopolitical shifts have undermined sustainable peace. Using the Western Balkans as a focused case study, this article examines how the enduring legacies of armed conflict and the erosion of a robust human security framework manifest in critical social and educational spheres. Through a qualitative documentary analysis of policy reports, academic literature, and NGO assessments, the paper investigates the interconnected challenges to community, economic, and political security in societies such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. The analysis reveals three key findings: first, unresolved political disputes and ethno-nationalist politics perpetuate a state of 'negative peace,' eroding community security and social trust. Second, persistent socio-economic precarity is intrinsically linked to widespread public health crises, particularly in mental health, hindering human development. Third, educational systems, rather than fostering reconciliation, often serve as institutional mechanisms for reinforcing ethnic divisions, thereby sowing the seeds of future instability. The paper concludes that a superficial, state-centric approach to post-conflict reconstruction, which neglects the deep-seated social and educational dimensions of human security, results in a 'fractured peace'—a society free from war but not from fear or want. It calls for a renewed policy focus on integrated education, community-based mental health services, and transitional justice to build a more resilient and positive peace.