'Until yesterday we lived together - Do juce smo zivjeli zajedno': Youth and community development in Northern Ireland & Bosnia-Herzegovina

In the contemporary runaway world, few societies, communities or individuals escape the globalising effect that impacts upon our everyday lives; each society finds itself in the midst of either gradual or eruptive political, social and economic change. Often a product of this process is one of reflexive modernisation which brings with it the creation of societal and communal uncertainty following the decline or erosion of hitherto institutional and cultural certainties. This feeling of uncertainty and insecurity tends to be further intensified in those communities emerging from the experience of prolonged violent conflict, such as Northern Ireland (NI) and Bosnia-Hrezegovina (BaH). Furthermore, in such societies communal segregation and separation is regarded as normal and essential for both physical security and survival of identity. Such a situation serves to further reinforce distrust, prejudice, suspicion and hatred of the ‘other’. It is in the realm of civil society where youth and community development work must engage not only with local community, history and tradition, but also the influence and impact of modern globalism and consumerism, for the hearts and minds of young people. Drawing on initiatives and experiences from both BaH and NI this paper will highlight some of the positive practice as well as some of the barriers encountered in relation to youth and community development and social cohesion