This Was Not Our War: Bosnian Women Reclaiming The Peace | Swanee Hunt

Extended Synopsis

This Was Not Our War presents the powerful testimonies of twenty-six Bosnian women who survived the implosion of their multicultural society and emerged as the primary architects of its recovery. Representing a vast spectrum of ethnic traditions, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds, these women include university students, government ministers, paramedics, and fashion designers. Their stories provide a rare, intimate look at the transition from the chaos of atrocities and displacement to the diligent work of rebuilding a nation from the ground up.

Through seven years of interviews, Swanee Hunt weaves a narrative framework that connects these voices as they reflect on the causes of the war and the resilience of the human spirit. Crucially, these women vehemently reject the narrative that "age-old ethnic hatreds" made the violence inevitable. Instead, they focus on the future—advocating for truth, justice, and a common humanity that transcends religious and ethnic divides. Their courage serves as a blueprint for peace-building in fractured societies worldwide.