Barriers and facilitators to social reconstruction in Vukovar, Croatia

Obstáculos para y facilitadores de la reconstrucción social en Vukovar, Croacia

Organized violence, such as war, is loaded with human rights violations, massive losses and trauma, feelings of disappointment and often of betrayal. Prolonged forced displacement and ethnic cleansing leave behind a people whose basic belief in a fairly just and predictable world has been shattered. Once the hostilities are over, the rebuilding can begin. This should also include processes of social reconstruction during which people in local communities are expected to reconnect, to acknowledge the fact that former adversaries will have to live in the same community, and that they need to rebuild trust and every day communication. In other words, this process is about normalizing every day life in a community.

There are a number of fairly obvious barriers to such a process, while the resources that could facilitate it are often hidden. Among these barriers, most notable are unfulfilled existential needs, deep feelings of distrust, complicated grieving processes, consequences of trauma, and feelings of having been betrayed. The people who have suffered most often feel unable to actively contribute to the normalization of community life, to face their counterparts in suffering from the other side. Among these, the people whose family members are still missing are in an especially difficult situation. The role of perceived (in)justice and its (inefficient) execution is often neglected as a hindering or a facilitating factor.

The barriers and facilitators for the process of social reconstruction will be illustrated using data from a multi-methodological, multi-year study in the city of Vukovar , which became notorious because of the atrocities and destruction committed there. The survey, completed on a random sample of 400 Croats and Serbs and focus group data, will serve to identify the psychological barriers to social reconstruction as well as facilitating opportunities and local resources. Among the first, the extent of losses and suffering seem to be most prominent, while among the latter, lack of personal exposure to trauma and orientation to business seem to be important.

The perception of the ICTY (the Hague Tribunal) was found to be very unfavorable across ethnic groups. A model for empowering this local community that could contribute to active co-existence, stability, and peace will be presented.