Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation
This research seeks to examine the development of relations between Serbia and Montenegro after 2006, In the context of insufficient acceptance of a distinct Montenegrin identity by the Serbian state, elite, and public. The authors argue that, unlike elsewhere in the post-Yugoslav space, where in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centre for Southeast European Studies
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Contemporary Southeastern Europe |
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| Online Access: | https://unipub.uni-graz.at/cse/periodical/titleinfo/8264606 |
| _version_ | 1828067042577612800 |
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| author | Vučković, Vladimir Petrović, Miloš |
| author_facet | Vučković, Vladimir Petrović, Miloš |
| author_sort | Vučković, Vladimir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research seeks to examine the development of relations between
Serbia and Montenegro after 2006, In the context of insufficient acceptance of a
distinct Montenegrin identity by the Serbian state, elite, and public. The
authors argue that, unlike elsewhere in the post-Yugoslav space, where interrepublic
cooperation had decreased during the country’s breakup, Serbo-
Montenegrin relations have mostly deteriorated “only” since Montenegrin
independence. The authors attribute such developments to local identity
politics, arguing that Montenegrin and pro-Serbian political actors manipulate
identarian symbols both to strengthen their own positions and differentiate said
positions from their political rivals. Identarian aspects (like state symbols,
language and religion) are used not solely to underline one’s ethnic affiliation,
but also for ideological distancing from opponents. These populist activities
have caused a deep polarization in Montenegrin society for at least two reasons.
Firstly, the use of aforementioned state symbols further strengthened the
political divisions even at the inter-state level, resulting in the homogenization
of the national and electorate corps. Secondly, ethnic affiliation has been
influenced by geopolitical elements, namely, Russophile tendencies in the
Serbian political actors and pro-Western tendencies among Montenegrin actors.
The authors apply the ‘situational nationalism’ approach to show that the
outcomes of the still-ongoing nation-building process in Montenegro correlate
with both domestic policies (institutional top-down approach) and external
factors (cross-border effects, including the geopolitics). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:40:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13f89f38728e4f88a87484889f04cd36 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-3612 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:40:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Centre for Southeast European Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Contemporary Southeastern Europe |
| spelling | doaj.art-13f89f38728e4f88a87484889f04cd362023-01-11T08:47:56ZengCentre for Southeast European StudiesContemporary Southeastern Europe2310-36122022-10-0192548010.25364/02.9:2022.2.5Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest RepresentationVučković, Vladimir0Petrović, Miloš1Masaryk UniversityUniversity of BelgradeThis research seeks to examine the development of relations between Serbia and Montenegro after 2006, In the context of insufficient acceptance of a distinct Montenegrin identity by the Serbian state, elite, and public. The authors argue that, unlike elsewhere in the post-Yugoslav space, where interrepublic cooperation had decreased during the country’s breakup, Serbo- Montenegrin relations have mostly deteriorated “only” since Montenegrin independence. The authors attribute such developments to local identity politics, arguing that Montenegrin and pro-Serbian political actors manipulate identarian symbols both to strengthen their own positions and differentiate said positions from their political rivals. Identarian aspects (like state symbols, language and religion) are used not solely to underline one’s ethnic affiliation, but also for ideological distancing from opponents. These populist activities have caused a deep polarization in Montenegrin society for at least two reasons. Firstly, the use of aforementioned state symbols further strengthened the political divisions even at the inter-state level, resulting in the homogenization of the national and electorate corps. Secondly, ethnic affiliation has been influenced by geopolitical elements, namely, Russophile tendencies in the Serbian political actors and pro-Western tendencies among Montenegrin actors. The authors apply the ‘situational nationalism’ approach to show that the outcomes of the still-ongoing nation-building process in Montenegro correlate with both domestic policies (institutional top-down approach) and external factors (cross-border effects, including the geopolitics).https://unipub.uni-graz.at/cse/periodical/titleinfo/8264606serbiamontenegronation-buildingstatehood and national identitypopulism |
| spellingShingle | Vučković, Vladimir Petrović, Miloš Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation Contemporary Southeastern Europe serbia montenegro nation-building statehood and national identity populism |
| title | Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation |
| title_full | Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation |
| title_fullStr | Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation |
| title_short | Colliding Western Balkan Neighbors: Serbia and Montenegro in Post- Yugoslav Context –Identity and Interest Representation |
| title_sort | colliding western balkan neighbors serbia and montenegro in post yugoslav context identity and interest representation |
| topic | serbia montenegro nation-building statehood and national identity populism |
| url | https://unipub.uni-graz.at/cse/periodical/titleinfo/8264606 |
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