Representation of history and geography in divided societies: the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

This thesis examines how history and geography textbooks in Bosnia and Herzegovina construct competing spatial identities and collective memories in a divided post‑conflict society. While prior research has focused on institutional fragmentation or conflicting historical narratives, little attention has been given to how temporal (history) and spatial (geography) representations jointly shape socio‑spatial socialization. Through textual analysis of Bosniak, Croat, and Serb textbooks, the study shows how each system constructs its own vision of territory, belonging, and national identity. These narratives reproduce parallel histories, naturalize competing territorial imaginaries, and sustain fragmented cognitive maps that hinder shared socio‑spatial consciousness and reconciliation.