ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role of formal/institutional religious actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their impact on resilience and vulnerability to extremism at the community level. The chapter presents the views and perspectives of religious, state, and non-governmental institutions on the role of religious institutions regarding community dynamics and analyses the encouragement of a specific form of extremism, namely cumulative extremism – which in this particular case signifies the intertwined relationship between political and religious extremism(s). Additionally, the chapter looks into good practices, interactions, and contributions of religious institutions in strengthening the resilience of local communities – based on fieldwork conducted in Sarajevo, Mostar, Prijedor, and Brčko in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The chapter concludes that the influence of religious institutions extends beyond spiritual matters and permeates various spheres of society, including political decision-making processes and ethnic dynamics. In certain instances, religious establishments align themselves with specific political ideologies or parties, thereby exerting an impact on political conversations and decision-making processes.
