Public Engagement: From Evidence to Dialogue

CONSENT BiH is grounded in the conviction that constitutional debate should be informed by evidence rather than conjecture, and by citizens’ preferences rather than elite assumptions. Public engagement is therefore not an add-on to the project, but a core component of its research logic.

At the same time, the project follows a clear principle: public engagement will be based on completed and rigorously analysed findings, not on preliminary impressions or partial results. Engagement follows evidence—not the other way around.

Forms of Engagement

Public engagement activities associated with CONSENT BiH will include:

• Policy reports and research briefs

  presenting key findings in accessible, non-technical language

• Media engagement

  2.

  including interviews, op-eds, and background briefings for journalists

• Public events and panel discussions

  3.

  aimed at fostering informed constitutional dialogue across communities

• Presentations and workshops

  3.

  with policymakers, civil society actors, and international stakeholders

• Academic outreach

  3.

  including conference presentations and invited talks

Timeline

Public engagement will take place primarily after the completion of data collection and analysis, in line with the project’s overall timeline.

Summer–Fall 2026

Core period of public engagement, centred on the release of policy reports and public-facing research outputs. This phase is designed to inform media coverage and policy debate at a moment when empirical evidence can meaningfully contribute to constitutional discussions.

Beyond 2026

Continued engagement through academic publications, public lectures, and comparative discussions situating Bosnia and Herzegovina’s experience within broader debates on post-conflict governance and constitutional design.

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Principles Guiding Engagement

CONSENT BiH’s public engagement is guided by four principles:

The project does not seek to promote a single constitutional solution. Its objective is to expand the space for informed democratic discussion by clarifying what citizens themselves are willing to accept.

Updates and Materials

This page will be updated with:

• Announcements of public events
• Links to policy reports and media contributions
• Recordings or summaries of public discussions
• Information on upcoming engagement opportunities

Until then, it serves as a statement of intent: to connect rigorous empirical research with meaningful public dialogue, without collapsing analysis into advocacy.