ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relation between war, violence and identities in the Muslim community of Stolac, a minor town in southeast Bosnia-Herzegovina. It also focuses on the production by Stolac Muslims of various stereotypes of different categories of Croats. Politika, or politics, is a central component in the lives of the Muslims of Stolac: during the last decade, the politics of the region and towards the region have had catastrophic consequences, among them the politicisation of many aspects of everyday life. Politicians and the field of politics in Stolac are associated with a specific moral universe, a universe sharply contrasting with the life and ethical standards of ordinary people. The categorization of actions and persons in relation to decency and non-decency instead of ethnicity can also function as an important tool in facilitating interaction with people of different ethnic backgrounds.
