Crisis Management Extremes in Multi-Level Systems: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Journal Article: Crisis Management Extremes in Multi-Level Systems: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Journal: Publius, the Journal of Federalism, the world's leading journal devoted to federalism. Publius is sponsored by the Section on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations of the American Political Science Association.
Date of Publication: April 13, 2026
Author: Maja Sahadžić, Utrecht University/Montaigne Centre for Rule of Law and Administration of Justice, Utrecht 3512HT, Netherlands. Email: m.sahadzic@uu.nl
Corresponding author: Utrecht University, School of Law, Johanna Hudiggebouw, Achter Sint Pieter 200, Room 0.20, Utrecht 3512HT, Netherlands.
How to Cite: Maja Sahadžić, Crisis Management Extremes in Multi-Level Systems: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Volume 56, Issue 2, Spring 2026, Pages 324–352, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaf007
Abstract: What are the conditions for effective crisis management in multi-level systems characterized by overlapping territorial and ethnic structures? To answer this question, this article considers evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). BiH’s fragmented governance often hinders effective vertical and horizontal coordination across government levels. Drawing on two case studies—the 2014 floods (an internal crisis) and the COVID-19 pandemic (an external crisis)—the analysis reveals how substate entities’ extensive exclusive powers promote unilateral decision-making and limit the ability to address crises collectively. The evidence shows that internal crises often exacerbate fragmentation, while external crises may initially foster coordination before political and structural limitations reassert dominance. Further, while community activism assists in addressing coordination gaps, it cannot substitute for gaps in governance.
The article can be found here, and in PDF form here.
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