Refugee Returns in Croatia: Contradictions and Reform

Abstract

The principle of refugee returns has been cited as a means of resolving crises and paving the way for post-conflict reconciliation. However, return does not necessarily entail reconciliation and, in practice, the return of refugees has contributed to new tensions between ethnic communities, as well as within them. In Croatia, laws introduced by the former Tudjman regime which discriminated against non-ethnic Croats have exacerbated tensions and frustrated the process of return in war-torn areas. Discrimination against non-Croats is discussed with reference to housing policy, the law on amnesty, and the workings of judicial institutions. In spite of recent reforms, there are many barriers to return, including the costs of reconstruction, non-compliance, and the enduring effects of previous laws that created a two-tier system.