Mcdonaldization Of Society

Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country

located in southeastern Europe. Bosnia- Herzegovina

declared its independence in March of 1992. Usually, this

country is referred to as Bosnia, but is officially named

Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 1918, Bosnia-Herzegovina became

part of the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes,

which later became known as the country of Yugoslavia. In

1946, Yugoslavia became a federal state consisting of six

republics, one of which was Bosnia-Herzegovina. Slavic

people make up most of the counties population. The largest

groups are the Bosnia Muslims, the Serbs, and the Croats.

Much of the Serbian population opposed to Bosnia's

independence and a civil war erupted in the Spring of 1992.

Serbian forces soon occupied about two-thirds of the

country. About one-fifth was soon held by Bosnian

Croatians. The remainder of the country was held by

Bosnian government troops, mainly Bosnian Muslims. From

1945, till 1990, communists held a monopoly on powers in

all of Yugoslavia, including Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 1990,

non-communists gained a majority of seats in Bosnia's first

multi-party election. Bosnia-Herzegovina's capitol city is

Sarajevo, which can be found in the center of the country.

Although many languages are spoke there, the main language

is Serbo-Croatian. In a 1991 census, there was a reported

4,365,639 people living in the borders of

Bosnia-Herzegovina which has an area of 19,741 square

miles, and in 1995 there was an estimated 4,454,000 people

in the country (Twenty-two people per square mile.)

Sixty-six percent of those people live in rural areas, leaving

only thirty-four percent living in urban areas. Bosnia-

Herzegovina's money system is based on the Dinar. Their

main agricultural exports are cattle, cherries, corn, grapes,

hogs, peaches, pears, plums, potatoes, sheep, soybeans,

tobacco, walnuts, and wheat. As a developing country, their

industrial production is slightly limited, producing mainly

electrical appliances and textiles. There is also a lot of mining

of coal and iron ore which also contributes to the countries

economy. Bosnia's government is headed by a seven

member collective presidency. The presidency consists of

two Croats, two Bosnian Muslims, two Serbs, and one

individual who is not affiliated with a specific ethnic group.

Voters elect members to a four year term. The members

then elect a president who serves a one year term, but then

may be later reelected. The Bosnia-Herzegovina government

also consists of a two-house legislature. The chamber of

citizens has 130 members and the Chamber of municipalities

has 110 members. All are elected for a four year term.

There are, as in the United States, different political parties in

Bosnia-Herzegovina. These parties are recognized as the

Party of Democratic Action, the Serbian Democratic party,

and the Croatian Democratic Union. About forty-four

percent of Bosnia-Herzegovina's population are Bosnian

Muslims. Serbs make up about thirty-two percent, and

Croats account for roughly seventeen percent. The remaining

seven percent include Albanians, Gypsies, and Ukrainians.

Since the civil war began, large numbers of people have fled

the county. Most of Bosnia-Herzegovina's people speak a

language called Serbo- Croatian. In writing though, Serbs

traditionally use the Cyrillic alphabet. On the other hand,

Bosnian Muslims, Croats and the majority of others living in

Bosnia use the Roman alphabet. The main religions of

Bosnia are Islamic, practiced by the Bosnian Muslims,

Roman Catholic, practiced by the Croats, and the main

religion of the Serbs is Serbian Orthodoxy. Another aspect

of the Bosnian people's culture is their food. Bosnian

cooking reflects Turkish and Muslim influences. Musaka,

roasted meat and eggplant, and kapama, mutton with

spinach and green onions, are just two of the dishes