The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic

This article situates itself in the theoretical space between world-systems theory and postcolonial theory, exploring how the state of peripherality and concomitant dependency is reproduced in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Covid-19 pandemic. The dependent position of the Bosnian protectorate in...

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Main Author: Jasna Balorda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of World-Systems Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/jwsr/article/view/1261
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author Jasna Balorda
author_facet Jasna Balorda
author_sort Jasna Balorda
collection DOAJ
description This article situates itself in the theoretical space between world-systems theory and postcolonial theory, exploring how the state of peripherality and concomitant dependency is reproduced in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Covid-19 pandemic. The dependent position of the Bosnian protectorate in the world-system, its heritage of colonial rule and peripherality, as well as post-colonial influences of Pax-Americana on state constitution and state capture, have all contributed to the inability of the divided state to adequately respond to the pandemic. This article reveals a multifaceted dependence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Western core economies in relation to aid, equipment and vaccines as well as its gradual move towards China as a new opportunity. The pandemic also becomes the stage for competition between the Eastern and Western companies for mining concessions needed to secure the green transition in the respective economies, as a new wave of primitive accumulation ravages the European periphery. As a result of this new scramble for the Balkans, and amidst the global shift towards multipolarity, we see a stable reproduction of peripherality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, and re-emergence of ethnic conflict in previously disputed areas, where ethnic groups identify with the interests of their respective hegemons.
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spelling doaj-art-ad3245cfc9aa40e8ab65dc09c2c1b00f2025-08-20T02:17:35ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghJournal of World-Systems Research1076-156X2025-04-0131110.5195/jwsr.2025.1261The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 PandemicJasna Balorda0Liverpool Hope University This article situates itself in the theoretical space between world-systems theory and postcolonial theory, exploring how the state of peripherality and concomitant dependency is reproduced in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Covid-19 pandemic. The dependent position of the Bosnian protectorate in the world-system, its heritage of colonial rule and peripherality, as well as post-colonial influences of Pax-Americana on state constitution and state capture, have all contributed to the inability of the divided state to adequately respond to the pandemic. This article reveals a multifaceted dependence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Western core economies in relation to aid, equipment and vaccines as well as its gradual move towards China as a new opportunity. The pandemic also becomes the stage for competition between the Eastern and Western companies for mining concessions needed to secure the green transition in the respective economies, as a new wave of primitive accumulation ravages the European periphery. As a result of this new scramble for the Balkans, and amidst the global shift towards multipolarity, we see a stable reproduction of peripherality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, and re-emergence of ethnic conflict in previously disputed areas, where ethnic groups identify with the interests of their respective hegemons. http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/jwsr/article/view/1261World-SystemBosnia and HerzegovinaCompeting CoresPeripheralityShatter BeltPandemic
spellingShingle Jasna Balorda
The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Journal of World-Systems Research
World-System
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Competing Cores
Peripherality
Shatter Belt
Pandemic
title The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic
title_full The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic
title_fullStr The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic
title_short The Reproduction of Peripherality during the Covid-19 Pandemic
title_sort reproduction of peripherality during the covid 19 pandemic
topic World-System
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Competing Cores
Peripherality
Shatter Belt
Pandemic
url http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/jwsr/article/view/1261
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