Why is the Country’s Name Bosnia and Herzegovina and not Bosnia Herzegovina Srpska?

I’m gonna do something extremely unwise and give this a shot. For the record, I have no stake in this discussion and am just a nerd who likes history, maps, and weird questions. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get on with it:

The Existence of Herzegovina

My best guess is that there are two misconceptions in this question. Firstly, Herzegovina does exist and it is the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The rest is Bosnia. Herzegovina has a long history under that namespecifically, the Sanjak of Herzegovina from 1470–1833 and 1851–1912, and in between as the Herzegovina Eyalet from 1833–1851. You can find it on the map.

Historical Maps of the Region

Here are a couple of historical maps to illustrate this:

British 1901 Map on Alamy: French 1913 Map mentioning Bosnia and Herzegovina:

As you can see, the borders of different regions have moved over time. Here is a 1901 British map on Alamy:

[Insert 1901 British Map on Alamy]

And here is a 1913 French map mentioning Bosnia and Herzegovina:

[Insert French 1913 Map]

The Concept of Srpska

The second part of the question involves understanding the concept of Srpska or the more proper term, Republika Srpska.

Srpska as a Concept

Srpska is a noun derived from the ethnonym of the Serbs, with a different suffix than Srbija (Serbia). In Serbian, many names of countries are formed with the -sk- suffix, for example:

Bugarska (Bulgaria) Danska (Denmark) Finska (Finland) Hrvatska (Croatia) Irska (Ireland) Turska (Turkey)

An analogous formation in English would be Serbland, which has been used sporadically. The use of Srpska in the official name “Bosnia and Srpska” instead of “Bosnia and Herzegovina” would be problematic because it would make a claim on the neighboring Serbia. Additionally, it would exclude half of Herzegovina.

Historical and Ethnographic Context

Srpska is not a historic name for the region. The Serbs have inhabited the area for a long time, but the region wasn't named for them. The borders of the Srpska Republic, however, do not follow traditional regional borders. They were just part of the country where the Serb population at some point reached a majority. It's important to acknowledge that today, the Srpska area is a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a majority ethnic Serb population. However, it is not a basis for suddenly calling it by the name of a neighboring country. This would only cause trouble.

Current Political Structure

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a complex political structure, with the entity of Republika Srpska enjoying a significant degree of autonomy. This structure is a result of post-war agreements and a legacy of ethnic divisions within the country. It’s important to recognize that Republika Srpska is an official entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina and not an independent entity with historical claims elsewhere.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there is some historical and ethnographic context that explains why Herzegovina is named as it is, and why Srpska is not a historial name, the current official name of the country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the result of political and historical compromises. Calling it Bosnia and Herzegovina Srpska would not only cause confusion but also stir up political tensions. It's imperative to respect the names and structures that have been agreed upon and used in the official domains of the country.