30 YEARS AFTER DAYTON
REIMAGINING PEACEBUILDING TODAY
Thirty years after the Dayton Peace Agreement brought an end to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its legacy remains deeply contested. While Dayton succeeded in stopping the violence, it also created a complex political system that continues to struggle with fragmentation, ethnic divisions, and limited progress toward reconciliation and effective governance. These challenges raise broader questions about how peace agreements can move societies from fragile stability toward lasting and inclusive peace.
At a time when conflicts worldwide are testing the limits of diplomacy and international mediation, revisiting Dayton offers important insights for today’s peacebuilding efforts. From the Western Balkans to Ukraine and the Middle East, the experiences following Dayton highlight both the possibilities and the shortcomings of negotiated settlements.
The conference “30 Years After Dayton: Reimagining Peacebuilding Today”, held on 3 December 2025 in Vienna, brings together policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and young leaders to reflect on these issues. Building on the initiative “Young Generation for the New Western Balkans”, the event combines closed workshops under the Chatham House Rule with a public panel discussion.
Discussions focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path three decades after Dayton and on what lessons its experience can offer for contemporary conflicts. By placing Dayton’s legacy in a wider international context, the conference aims to contribute to more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking approaches to peacebuilding. See the video for the public panel discussion below!