Bosnia Quote by Anne-Marie Slaughter
“In Sarajevo and in Syria, these are societies - in Bosnia, in Serbia, in Kosovo, in Syria - where ethnicities live side by side and intermarry for long periods of time until it becomes valuable to exploit the division. And yes, the division's there because you can always revert back to history, you can always inflame it, but it is manipulated for political ends.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Ethnic Cohesion, International Forum, 2015
Ethnic groups often coexist peacefully for generations, but political actors may exploit historical tensions for gain.
In simple terms: Coexistence can be turned into division by manipulators.
Key Takeaway
Beware of political narratives that sow division.
Themes
politics
ethnicity
social cohesion
manipulation
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
critical
political
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- community building
- media literacy
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
identity politics
conflict theory
social engineering
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect shared histories from political exploitation?
- What mechanisms can prevent manipulation of ethnic identities?
A Different Perspective
Divisions can be deep-rooted and not easily reversed.
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