Human Development Index by European nation 2024

[Kraubart]

I would like to refer to Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the eight European countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI). Bosnia is therefore among the countries with the lowest HDI score in Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina is especially interesting since it represents a hybrid of the political east and west. The country represents the fusion of the two worlds since it was part of the Ottoman Empire and for some time western powers like Austria-Hungary. I find this country's history very interesting. Sadly, Bosnia now grapples with developmental stagnation across crucial dimensions.

It is important to point out that only the cantons with a predominant Croat demographic exhibit the highest or "very high" HDI levels, whereas Bosniak-majority cantons register lower or "high" HDI ratings. South-western ends of Bosnia and Herzegovina are dominated by Croats: Canton 10 (Herzeg-Bosnian canton), Herzegovina-Neretva, and Western Herzegovina canton. Also, the Serbian ethnic territory has a lower HDI score. Croats have historically aligned themselves with Western ideologies and the Western Christian Church, further underscored by their industrious ethos. Croats have always been superior in literature and art and have been the most advanced in education. It is important to point out that Bosnian literature is dominated by the Croats of Bosnia. My discourse is devoid of chauvinistic and ethnocentric undertones, it is grounded in facts. Despite their cultural and educational advancement compared to the other two nations, Croats in contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina find themselves marginalized, notwithstanding their constitutional status as one of the three constitutive nations, equitably positioned alongside Serbs and Bosniaks. The prevailing policies of the other two ethnic groups threaten to diminish the Croat community's status to that of a minority...

[Oghuz]

One thing I find droll and ironic is how some MENA countries have more liberal prostitution laws than the UK and US: Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Tunisia. Further, Iran has a practice called 'temporary marriage', which is really prostitution in all but name.

You are wrong I am afraid. First, it's not an exclusive Iranian practice, it was an early Islamic practice that was later adapted by Shias and some sunnis under different labels like Sigheh, Mutah, Misyar etc. It was done to give legal coverage to sex because as surprising as it sounds, Islam forbids chastity or sexual suppression and at that time the Islamic society was full of high testosterone war hardened warriors. Technically, it is just marriage and divorce so anyone of any faith can do it. It's now rare, one can pull some odd examples here or there but modern muslim generations like rest of the world are getting more and more liberalized so nobody needs it anymore but the option is there. Also, it's not prostitution because children born out of such contract marriage are legitimate, and the divorced wife has full claim over alimony and child support. If it is used for prostitution then that's a loophole exploitation. Pimps are crafty people.

[Tooting Carmen]

Croatia has very uneven development. I might make a thread about it since I travel a lot for work lately.

Zagreb metro area, Istria, north Adriatic and (parts of) coastal Dalmatia are quite developed and on par with well off parts of Europe. Rest looks much more humble, with region just 50 km southeast of Zagreb called Banovina looking third worldish due to specific historical circumstances and recent earthquake.

How do you feel about the economic changes Croatia has undergone recently?