Whose Justice, Whose Peace? Rethinking Transitional Justice during the Pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Lessons for Times of Crisis
Please join the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES) for a brown bag lecture by Dr. Mehmet Yavuz (K-State) titled "Whose Justice, Whose Peace? Rethinking Transitional Justice during the Pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Lessons for Times of Crisis" on Thursday October 29 at 12pm in Bailey Hall, Rm. 318.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a profoundly disruptive experience that not only exacerbated existing vulnerabilities but also introduced new and complex challenges. During this time, people lost their jobs, and without a steady income, they were forced to move back in with their families of origin. Many queer workers are overrepresented in precarious forms of employment, including service and hospitality, and for some, this meant stepping back into the closet, putting both their mental and physical health at risk. By examining violence and mental health, this brown bag lecture series highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic functioned as a structural amplification of pre-existing inequalities, intensifying homophobia and producing new forms of spatial injustice for queer communities in Bosnia. Consequently, the study argues that the COVID-19 pandemic not only exacerbated structural inequalities for marginalized communities in Bosnia but also unevenly distributed access to space, mobility, and security, thereby increasing the risk of discrimination.
Dr. Mehmet Yavuz’s research explores the intersections of peacebuilding, identity, activism, and marginalization, focusing on how these dynamics shape societies and contribute to transformative change. Further, Dr. Yavuz’s work critically examines and seeks to disrupt everyday violence across various social and cultural spaces. His current research projects focus on refugee experiences and identity, media peace archives, and the Yugoslav War. Dr. Yavuz is the recipient of the prestigious Big 12 Faculty Fellowship and serves as Associate Editor of Conflict Resolution Quarterly.