Vol. 17 No. 1 (2026): Regular Issue (In Progress)
Research Article

Structural and Perceived Border Effects in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Borderlands

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Aida Avdić Marić
Independent Researcher, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Spatial scope of the study. Source: Adapted from A. Avdić (2025) Note: IEBL = Inter-Entity Boundary Line.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.a.avd.17.1.337.357
Categories

Published 2026-09-21

Keywords

  • borderlands,
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina,
  • border effects,
  • territorial heterogeneity,
  • local perceptions

How to Cite

Avdić Marić, Aida. 2026. “Structural and Perceived Border Effects in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Borderlands”. European Journal of Geography 17 (1):337-57. https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.a.avd.17.1.337.357.

Copyright (c) 2026 Aida Avdić Marić

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Received 2026-05-16
Accepted 2026-09-19
Published 2026-09-21

Abstract

This paper examines the internal heterogeneity of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s borderlands by relating demographic and socio-economic differences across border sectors to residents’ perceptions of the state border. The study combines municipality-level official statistics with a case-based survey in six border municipalities. Eight composite indices were used to assess structural variation, followed by non-parametric comparisons. The results show that the borderlands do not form a uniform belt of disadvantage. After correction for multiple testing, sectoral differences remain significant for vitality, educational attainment and economic vitality, while the EU-facing/non-EU-facing distinction explains only part of the observed variation. Survey findings show that perceptions of development and border opportunity do not correspond directly with structural position. More frequent cross-border mobility is associated with more positive perceptions of the border’s economic role and stronger perceived cultural proximity, while identity patterns remain strongly place-specific.

Highlights:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina’s borderlands do not form a uniform peripheral belt.
  • Structural borderland conditions do not consistently correspond with residents’ perceptions and everyday experiences of the border.
  • Frequent cross-border mobility is associated with stronger perceptions of border opportunity.
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