SEIM & the WESTERN BALKANS:

Ex-Yugoslavia: Serbia (incl. Kosovo), Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia

The primary focus of the consultancy SEIM Analytics is the territory that once formed Yugoslavia, which today is Serbia (incl. Kosovo-Metohija), Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina (since 1995 split into the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska). This has been the core region of professional interest of Dr. Seim since the early 1990s, with the first newspaper commentary in 1992, and first field trip in January 1995 to Serbia. Studies, research, travel, and professional work have been conducted on a regular basis in all these ex-Yugoslav states the last 30 years, amounting to several years of physical presence in all these countries.

This region (mostly but not fully encompassed by the notion Western Balkans) has been monitored through the challenging 1990s, a decade of state dissolution and separatism, political conflict, wars, and international interventions in the region. Its post-conflict period and ongoing political and economic transformation afterwards has been observed with regular visits. While Slovenia, and later Croatia, could join the European Union, despite progress the remaining other states are still in the waiting room.

SERVICES:

SEIM Analytics offers political briefings and assessments, historical research, and business-related evaluations to clients related to this region. This includes analyzing the slow or stalled EU integration process on the Western Balkans since the 2003 Tessaloniki summit when the accession perspective was “promised.”

As a PhD microhistorian, and democratization and election consultant, great interest is on political dynamics on the local level, including both intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic political competition. Interviews with politicians is a key methodology. This interest is compatible with the role as political analyst and any consultancy role.

Dr. Seim is certified translator and interpreter of Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian with years of work experiences from Oslo Municipality, Department for Foreigners. This language fluency enables direct engagement with interlocutors and clients on the ground in any capacity.

Work with OSCE has given extensive experience in meeting politicians, including European parliamentarians, government officials, ministers, but also NGOs, journalists, and civil society. This includes the ability to unite an academic background with a diplomatic approach in sensitive political environments.

A dedicated focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina since the outbreak of war in 1992 has contributed to a comprehensive knowledge of its history, political landscape, and security challenges, but also socioeconomic trends and human rights issues. Seim Analytics conducts research on Bosnia’s past and follows its difficult post-war period with tailored analysis for institutions and clients.

Travels to all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 to 2025 has contributed to intimate knowledge of Bosnia and of every single Bosnian municipality, including the 1991 population composition of each, its wartime trajectory, and current population and political status. See Photo Sale Bosnia for places of visits.

SEIM Analytics offers the presentations:

1.     Tito’s Yugoslavia: From decentralization and disintegration to dissolution and destruction.

2.     Nation- and state building on the Western Balkans to 1918.

3.     The war in Croatia 1991-95. Focus on the political background and military events.

4.     The political destabilization in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1990-92.

5.     The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-95, military history.

6.     The post-war period on the Western Balkans (with special focus on Bosnia): Democratization, elections, state building, human rights, minority rights, reconciliation, EU integration.

7.     Methodological seminar: Oral history and micro history.

8.     Presentation of the conflict focused doctoral dissertation “The Road to War in the Bosnian Municipality of Kotor Varoš in 1992: A Microhistory.” Research tasks, methodology, challenges, and conclusions.