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Introduction – Nationalism and the Politicization of History in the Former Yugoslavia

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Nationalism and the Politicization of History in the Former Yugoslavia

Part of the book series: Modernity, Memory and Identity in South-East Europe ((MOMEIDSEE))

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Abstract

The goal of this project is to analyze the ongoing politicization of history as an instrument of power at the hands of nationalists in former Yugoslavia. We define the politicization of history as history’s instrumentalization by institutions for the purpose of achieving political goals, in this case retaining and prolonging conflict between groups, and blocking the process of lasting reconciliation in former Yugoslavia. This is largely done by attempting to control the public collective memory through the relativization of well-documented facts.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See this volume, Albert Bing Post-Communism and recent history.

  2. 2.

    See this volume, Marina Prusac Lindhagen, Reclaiming Illyria: The notorious usefulness of archeology to Communism and nationalism alike in Yugoslavia and after.

  3. 3.

    See this volume, Ljiljana Radonić, The Europeanization of memory at the Jasenovac Memorial Museum.

  4. 4.

    See this volume, Jovan Byford, Political instrumentalization of a site of the Holocaust: Contested memories of Semlin camp in Belgrade.

  5. 5.

    See this volume, Francine Friedman, Thrice plundered: The politics of restitution with regard to the Jews of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  6. 6.

    See this volume, Neven Andjelic, Himmler’s SS Handschar Division.

  7. 7.

    See this volume, Gorana Ognjenovic, The highway of symbolism: A thin red line.

  8. 8.

    See this volume, Jelena Subotic´ and Filip Ejdus, Constructing a truth regime: The 1999 NATO intervention in Serbian political memory.

  9. 9.

    See this volume, Nita Luci, National manhood: Martyrs, freedom fighters, and statesmen in Kosovo´s state-making.

  10. 10.

    See this volume, Denko Skalovski, The Politicization of History in North Macedonia (1941–2018).

  11. 11.

    See this volume, Nebojša Čagorović, Djilas reconsidered: The Attitudes of Montenegro towards Milovan Djilas after 1989.

  12. 12.

    See this volume, Neža Kogovšek Šalamon and Sergej Flere, Slovenia: From best European pupil to perpetrator of the one of the most egregious ECHR violations.

  13. 13.

    See this volume, Ron Adams and Hariz Halilovic, Mass myths to mass graves: Politicizing memory in Serbia as a prelude to genocide in Bosnia.

  14. 14.

    See this volume, Mitja Velikonja, YU rearview mirror: Ways of remembering Yugoslavia.

  15. 15.

    See this volume, Jasna Jozelic, Reconfiguring and imposing identity: Politicization of identity.

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Ognjenovic, G., Jozelic, J. (2021). Introduction – Nationalism and the Politicization of History in the Former Yugoslavia. In: Ognjenovic, G., Jozelic, J. (eds) Nationalism and the Politicization of History in the Former Yugoslavia. Modernity, Memory and Identity in South-East Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65832-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65832-8_1

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-65831-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-65832-8

  • eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)

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