Paper short abstract:

A number of processes happening simultaneously in a rather short period of time including post-war recovery, economic transition social and political transitions from Socialism to Post-Socialism, European Integrations, Globalization EU-ization lead to unsustainable development of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.

Paper long abstract:

A reshaping the urban system of capital cities in SEE Region has occurred in the contest of rapid institutional transformation, unlike in Western Europe where societies have had a chance to test these trends and respond accordingly by formulating public policies mitigating their most negative impacts. As a consequence, in SEE countries, institutions established tend to be immature and in a state of flux. This institutional incompleteness characterizes local entrepreneurialism, city image building and strategic planning in post-socialist cities. There are many signs showing that the majority of urban changes taking place since the early 1990s are moving post-socialist cities in the direction of unsustainable growth.

As the new capital, formed by the disintegration of SFR Yugoslavia, Sarajevo gained new functions. All irregularities and dysfunctionalities of the institutional bodies' of Bosnia and Herzegovina being in transition best represent themselves territorially in the capital of BiH, Sarajevo, where the aforementioned shifts left their footprints on the urban tissue. These side effects of post-socialist planning happening not only in Bosnia but in the neighborhood as well include the emergence of urban sprawl, illegal building, land speculation, gentrification, and social stratification. As a gateway city, a country capital has new administrative, economic and political roles, a rising number of international contacts, growing foreign direct investment etc.

Finally, the decline of urban areas and the overall quality of life, growing social stratification, the disappearance of urban green and open spaces, the increase of traffic congestion and air pollution, can not be resolved without strengthening the active government involvement in the process of urban development.