Crisis response in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia

Abstract

The institutional design of crisis management in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia determined those countries' responses to the 2014 floods. In all three cases a weak institutional framework and deficient communication, coordination and cooperation severely limited the efficiency of crisis response. Even though the floods affected the broader region, there was no coordinated response between the countries. This was aggravated by the scale of the floods, the rareness of such an event - best described as a black swan event - and the lack of adequate measures to prepare for such an occurrence. The resulting patchwork of institutional responses had its own deficiencies and faults. We identify three common issues: a prevalent lack of effective communication between response actors and institutions through formal channels, a lack of substantial investment in water management and civil protection systems and the absence of responsibility after flooding. There were also differences between cases, especially regarding institutional learning and adaptation. Yet, the floods produced some insights at the strategic level of political officeholders, confirming bad governance in Southeast Europe.