THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF SPATIAL MARGINALIZATION: BOSANSKO GRAHOVO IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
This study examines spatial marginalization in Bosansko Grahovo, one of the most depopulated and socio-economically underdeveloped municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located on the EU border with Croatia. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates a previously developed Geographical Marginalization Index (GMAR) with survey data and interviews. The findings reveal a strong convergence between quantitative indicators of marginalization and residents’ perceptions, supporting the interpretation of Bosansko Grahovo as an example of double periphery defined by geographical remoteness and systemic exclusion. While the border itself is not perceived as the primary driver of decline, post-war legacies, institutional fragmentation and infrastructural deficits interact cumulatively to produce what is conceptualized as a selfreinforcing vicious circle of marginalization. Combining quantitative indicators with perception-based evidence allows for a better understanding of how marginalization persists in peripheral border areas.