By Roberta Gentilli
From early August to mid-September, I conducted fieldwork in Una-Sana Canton and along the border in both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. The first phase of this research focused on the role of border infrastructures and border violence. Accompanied by Lucija Koren—who provided legal expertise and cultural mediation—I spent a week exploring the Bosnian-Croatian border on both sides to analyze its geography and infrastructure.
In Croatia, our research centered on the towns of Topusko, Cetingrad, and Krnjak, while in Bosnia-Herzegovina, we focused on Velika Kladuša and Gradiška. This phase included semi-structured interviews and informal conversations with local residents, yielding valuable insights into border dynamics and the control measures implemented by Croatia as part of the EU's border management strategies. Our observations highlighted how border infrastructures not only serve as barriers but also foster the development of informal routes, forcing migrants to adopt complex and precarious and dangerous strategies to navigate an increasingly securitized environment.
The research also examined the broader implications of EU border policies, which delegate migration management responsibilities onto countries at the Union's periphery, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina. Conversations with local residents and activists underscored the tension between EU-imposed border regimes and the lived realities of border communities.
The second phase of my fieldwork took place in Bihać, where I conducted in-depth interviews with migrants and local activists. Migrants shared their experiences with the "game"—their repeated attempts to cross the border—shedding light on the physical and psychological violence perpetrated during pushbacks and the critical role of smuggling networks in their journeys.
This research period increased my understanding of the material and social landscapes of the Bosnian-Croatian border. It highlighted how border infrastructures and the actions of border authorities intersect to shape the precarious journeys of migrants and the dynamics of communities along the EU’s periphery.