The Bridge to Transition: Post-conflict Heritage as a Tool of Development in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Despite the symbolic significance of Mostar's Old Bridge, reconstructed through international cooperation and later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the project did not address the city's division or foster long-term reconciliation. This study reveals that while heritage reconstruction aimed for peace and development, it was instead instrumentalized by political elites to perpetuate social divisions, with economic neoliberal logics reshaping the historical landscape without resolving post-conflict challenges. Analyzing post-reconstruction practices in managing Mostar's Old City space, the research highlights the unintended consequences of using heritage as a tool for development, offering insights into the complexities of post-conflict reconstruction and urban governance.

Žuljević, M. (2025). The Bridge to Transition: Post-conflict Heritage as a Tool of Development in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The Politics of Post-Conflict Heritage Reconstruction, 87–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81093-0_5