ABSTRACT
This chapter traces developments of Islamic and national identities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly among Bosniak people. Living under various political regimes and occupying a unique position in south-eastern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Muslims established specific religious hermeneutics and the way of life. Those achievements were further reflected in numerous cultural projects, demonstrating the compatibility of Islam with different forms of political and social organisation. Tragedies in the 20th century, especially the war in the 1990s, have profoundly influenced inter-religious and interethnic relationships in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have also fostered the development of Bosniak national identity, often seen in connection to Islam. The future of BiH, however, should not be based on ethnonationalist narratives but on the recognition of common heritage and advancement of joint interests among peoples.
