Student Publications [Scholarly]

Local Dimensions of Violence in Detention Centers in Bosanski Novi during the 1990s War in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This contribution examines how interpersonal relationships shaped the dynamics of neighborhood violence in Bosanski Novi during the 1990s war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Drawing on survivor testimonies and interviews, it investigates how violence unfolded within the town's various ad-hoc detention centers and explores the treatment of non-Serb detainees in these spaces. Particular attention is paid to the Serb men who perpetrated violence in the camps, focusing on their behavior and the nature of their relationships with the non-Serb detainees. While many Serb perpetrators who operated within these detention facilities were not necessarily close friends or neighbors of the detainees, existing social ties, formed through years of living, working, or socializing together played a significant role in determining how detainees were treated. These interpersonal dynamics, I argue, often influenced decisions about who survived and who did not, even within highly regulated and militarized detention environments. By emphasizing local relationships, this chapter provides a more nuanced understanding of the violence in Bosanski Novi's detention sites and contributes to broader discussions about how local dynamics shape wartime atrocities. © The Author(s) 2026

Publication Title

Journal of Contemporary History

Publication Date

2026

ISSN

0022-0094

DOI

10.1177/00220094261481472

Keywords

Bosanski Novi, Bosnia, camps, genocide, micro-level

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