The Complexities of Interreligious Dialogue in the Post-Yugoslav Context

Abstract

ABSTRACT The post-Yugoslav context has experienced major instances of intolerance, suggesting that the success of initiatives dedicated to interreligious dialogue and lasting peaceful coexistence has been limited. While being aware of what is expected of them, political elites and religious leaders have approached each other as an asset useful to legitimize their rule, which has directly restrained prospects for a prejudice-free dialogue in the fragile societies. This article sees interreligious dialogue and tolerance as an imperative prerequisite for multiconfessional reconciliation in the area of the former Yugoslavia, so that religion is not used as a means for social and political agendas. Accordingly, religious dialogue and debates concerning tolerance should be treated as a sort of incomplete conversation, which should also welcome contributions from a wide range of civic actors in charge of monitoring pursued processes.