As part of the 16th Days of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS), and in cooperation with the Library of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, two exceptional events were held that attracted the attention of the academic community, students, and the general public.
The guest speaker was Professor Emeritus Keith Doubt, a distinguished American sociologist from Wittenberg University (Ohio, USA), whose long-standing academic and research work has focused on Bosnian society, post-conflict processes, and the role of social theory in analyzing war trauma and reconciliation. Prof. Doubt is the author of several noted books, including "Understanding Bosnia and Herzegovina", "Through the Window: Kinship and Elopement in Bosnia-Herzegovina", and "Sociology After Bosnia and Kosovo", recognized in international sociology for their deep humanistic analysis of Balkan societies.
In the newly renovated Library of the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, the first event was the promotion of his latest book, “Bosnian Authors in a European Window: A Comparative Study”. This work offers a comparative analysis of Bosnian literature and its place within a broader European and social context. Through an engaging discussion, Professor Doubt highlighted the complexity of identity, the legacy of war, and the ways in which literature reflects collective and individual experience. The audience had the opportunity to hear his reflections on the works of Bosnian authors and the role of literature in the social process of dealing with the past.
Reviews of the book emphasize its value both academically and culturally. The book has been described as “a bold and nuanced attempt to place Bosnian authors in dialogue with the European literary space,” while one reviewer called it “an important contribution to understanding Bosnia and Herzegovina through a cultural and narrative lens, written with deep respect for the country it discusses.”
Following the book promotion, Professor Doubt gave a lecture titled “The Iron Cage of Surreality: A Foucaultian Reading of the Dayton Accords”, in which he applied Michel Foucault’s theoretical framework to analyze the political and social implications of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The lecture focused on concepts of power, institutional control, and the paradox of stability without justice. The event was moderated by Prof. Dr. Tomislav Tadić from the Department of Sociology at the University of Sarajevo, and was followed by an open and thought-provoking discussion with the audience.
Both events were marked by strong interest and engagement from attendees—students, professors, researchers, and lovers of literature and the social sciences—who recognized in Professor Doubt not only an accomplished academic but also a sincere friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Through these programs, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy once again affirmed its commitment to dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the connection of domestic and international intellectuals with the aim of collectively shaping a better future for society.
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