This study aims to investigate how Bosniaks remember- and relate to the Bosnian war and the Srebrenica genocide. In connection with this, it also aims to examine the possibilities for forgiveness and reconciliation among Bosniaks. In order to investigate this, four narrative interviews with Bosniaks are conducted in which the main focus is on Bosniaks' stories in relation the Bosnian war and the Srebrenica genocide. The Bosniak interviewees are survivors of the Bosnian war, and come originally from Srebrenica (or the surrounding area) of Bosnia Herzegovina. Moreover, three of the four interviews were performed with a Bosniak family that consists of a father, mother and their daughter. The last interview includes an interview with another Bosniak man, who has not only survived the Bosnian war but also the Srebrenica genocide. The interviews took place in the Bosniak interviewees' homes in Denmark and were primary carried out in the Bosnian language. In order to analyze the narrative interviews, thematic analysis has been applied, which is a methodological branch under narrative analysis. The four interviews and the subsequent thematic analysis of these, form the basis for the study's findings.
In general, the results of this study demonstrate that Bosniaks have negative remembrances of the Bosnian war and the Srebrenica genocide, since they have been exposed to dreadful events during the war, e.g. loss of family members, enduring injuries, living in hunger etc.. In view of these events Bosniaks have a general tendency to maintain a distance particularly towards Serbs. Apart from this, the horrible events have helped to unite the Bosniaks, because they are sharing a position of victimhood.
Further, Bosniaks relate to the Bosnian war and the Srebrenica genocide in a manner, where they preserve their joint Bosnian history by, among other things, attending the annual commemorations, and by transferring knowledge about the Bosnian war to further generations. Thus, Bosniaks' joint history is preserved across time by means of their collective memory.
Finally, the results show that Bosniaks are reluctant to the possibilities for forgiveness and reconciliation. Since Bosniaks are not willing to forgive at an intrapersonal level, it minimizes the possibilities for interpersonal forgiveness. The unwillingness with regard to intrapersonal forgiveness also stands an obstacle to the opportunities for reconciliation.