ABSTRACT

One of the most curious features of post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina is the presence in the country of an international High Representative who exercises governmental power alongside local authorities.1 The position was created through a request from representatives of the parties to the conflict in an Annex to the Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Framework)2 and a UN Security Council resolution issued under Chapter VII of the UN Charter endorsing the establishment of a High Representative.3 To date, six individuals have successively served as High Representative.4 The practice has been for the Steering Board of a “Peace Implementation Council” to designate individuals for the position. The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and its Steering Board,

discussed further below, are diplomatic bodies that have provided political guidance to the High Representative concerning Bosnia’s peace implementation process, though they do not maintain legal authority over the High Representative. The former is composed of representatives of over 50 states and agencies, while the latter is composed of representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Presidency of the European Union (EU), the European Commission, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.5