DOCSLIB.ORG

Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans Violent Extremism in the Western

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans Violent Extremism in the Western Band 16 / 2016 Band 16 / 2016 What is the potential for violent extremism in the Western Bal- kans? This question has been the main topic of discussion of the 31st workshop of the Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe that took place in Belgrade, Serbia, from 27 to 29 September 2015. The term “radicalism” witnessed many different interpretations in the past, especially among Violent Extremism the political elites across the Balkans. With the beginning of the civil war in Syria in 2011 and the emergence of IS, the term in the Western Balkans “radicalisation” received a different meaning in the context of the Western Balkans. “Radicalisation” is increasingly being used as proxy for Balkan-born fighters going to the battlefields in Syria and Iraq. This increasing on-site potential of violence affects the international political community which is making efforts to put a halt to this phenomenon. Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans Violent Extremism in the Western ISBN: 978-3-902944-99-3 Filip Ejdus and Predrag Jureković (Eds.) 16/16 31st Workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe (Eds.) Jureković Ejdus, Study Group Information Study Group Information Filip Ejdus Predrag Jureković (Eds.) Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans 31st Workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group “Regional Stability in South East Europe” 16/2016 Vienna, May 2016 Imprint: Copyright, Production, Publisher: Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports Rossauer Lände 1 1090 Vienna, Austria Edited by: National Defence Academy Command Stiftgasse 2a 1070 Vienna, Austria In co-operation with: PfP Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Study Group Information Copyright © Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports All rights reserved May 2016 ISBN 978-3-902944-99-3 Printing: HDruckZ-ASt Stift 16-01297 Printed according to the Austrian Ecolabel for printedmatter, Austrian Federal MinistryofDefence and Sports/ Stiftgasse 2a Armed Forces Printing Centre, UW-Nr. 943 1070 Wien Table of Contents Foreword 5 Filip Ejdus and Predrag Jureković Abstract 9 Keynote Speech 11 Susan Woodward PART I: THE ROOTS OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM 23 SocioEconomic Roots of Extremism in the Region 25 Nemanja Džuverović PART II: RADICAL ISLAM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM 37 Salafi – Jihadists: a Threat to the Western Balkans? 39 James Kenneth Wither Foreign Fighters, Religious Radicalism and Violent Extremism in Albania and the Western Balkans 57 Ebi Spahiu Islamic Radicalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina 87 Edina Bećirević Violent Extremism and Religious Radicalism in Albania 95 Enri Hide PART III: NATIONALISM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM 111 The Roots of Success of Far Right Parties in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria 113 Věra Stojarová and Richard Stojar 3 Serbian Nationalism and Right-Wing Extremism 133 Isidora Stakić PART IV: STRATEGIES FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN THE WESTERN BALKANS 149 Policing, Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans 151 Gordana Jankuloska The Role of the Civil Society in Countering Violent Extremism 163 Izabela Kisić Countering Violent Extremism – The Role of the European Union 179 Marianne Wade PART V: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 201 Policy Recommendations from the Regional Stability in the South East Europe 203 Filip Ejdus List of Authors and Editors 209 4 Foreword Filip Ejdus and Predrag Jureković The 31st workshop of the Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe was convened in Belgrade, Serbia from 27 to 29 September 2015. Under the overarching title of “Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans” 30 experts from the South East European region, the international com- munity and major stakeholder nations met under the umbrella of the PfP Consortium of Defence Academies and Security Studies Institutes and the Austrian Ministry of Defence and Sports, represented through its National Defence Academy and Directorate General for Security Policy. The work- shop was supported by the regional partner organization Belgrade Centre for Security Policy. During the last two decades, the region of South East Europe has been on the agenda of Transatlantic, European and Austrian institutions with the goal of enhancing capabilities in the field of conflict management and peace support. Recent developments in the region have given rise to the main topic of the 31st workshop of the Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe. For more than a decade, the Western Balkans was considered to be a re- gion slowly recovering from the conflicts of the 1990s and on the way to consolidating peace and stability. In spite of occasional setbacks, democ- ratic backslides and sluggish reforms there has been a dependable expecta- tion that conflicts will be resolved or at least managed peacefully. The at- tack on a police station in the Bosnian town Zvornik (April 2015) and the killing of two soldiers of the army of Bosnia and Herzegovina near Sara- jevo (November 2015) as well as the “weekend war” in Kumanovo, Mace- donia (May 2015), put violence back on the agenda of the Western Balkans. Primarily the first two events shed new light on the problem of an increas- ing number of foreign fighters from the region who have joined the Islamic State or the Al Nusrah Front. In a video message from June 2015, the Is- lamic State invited Balkan Muslims to “either join, or kill over there”. 5 In particular during autumn and winter 2015, when also this part of South East Europe was heavily affected by the humanitarian challenges of the global refugee crisis, but with minor intensity as well after the closing of the so called “Balkan route” in March 2016 there have been fears that the refu- gee crisis could have negative security implications. On the other hand, these challenges, coupled with the never-ending economic crisis, EU enlargement fatigue, as well as the deterioration in West-Russia relationship further bolster extreme right wing mobilization across the region. A par- ticularly strong catalyst for right wing mobilization has been the war in Ukraine attracting some dozens of foreign fighters and mercenaries from the Balkans who joined either Kiev or proRussian rebels. If continued, the current refugee crisis may also bolster the rise of right wing extremism thus returning ethnic security dilemma to the politics of South East Europe. The following key questions constituted the framework of discussion and debate during the workshop and thus also structure the contributions from the four panels in the following pages: • What is the potential for violent extremism in the Western Balkans? • How can the region prevent radicalization? • Is the Islamic State a threat to the Western Balkans? • Should returning foreign fighters be reintegrated or sanctioned? • Should the refugee problem be securitized or treated purely as a humanitarian issue? • What is the role of media in the fight against violent extremism? • Is “the Greater Albania” project a myth or reality? • What are the links between right wing extremism and right wing political parties? • How can the region cooperate in the prevention of radicalization? • What is the role of the international community in the fight against violent extremism in the Western Balkans? • In what way can the civil-society contribute to de-radicalization? After Susan L. Woodward’s general reflections on the overall topic, part I of this book addresses the roots of violent extremism. The contributions in part II deal with the ties between Islamism and Salafi-Jihadist threats for 6 the Western Balkans. The various dimensions of nationalism are analyzed in part III. Finally, part IV focuses on the strategies for fighting violent extremism in the Western Balkans. The policy recommendations and find ings of the expert group are summarized at the end of the publication in part V. The editors would like to express their thanks to all authors who contrib uted papers to this volume of the Study Group Information. They are pleased to present the valued readers the analyses and recommendations of the Belgrade meeting and would appreciate if this Study Group Informa- tion could contribute to generate positive ideas for supporting the still chal- lenging processes of consolidating peace in South East Europe. Special thanks go to Ms. Adriana Dubo, who supported this publication as facilitating editor, and to Mr. Benedikt Hensellek for his stout support to the Study Group. 7 Abstract For more than a decade, the Western Balkans was considered to be a re- gion slowly recovering from the conflicts of the 1990s and on the way to consolidating peace and stability. The hope for peace was abruptly shaken by several violent incidents in 2015. The attack on a police station in the Bosnian town Zvornik and the killing of two soldiers of the army of Bosnia and Herzegovina near Sarajevo as well as the fights in Kumanovo, Mace- donia, put violence back on the agenda of the Western Balkans. The fear of new violence and the problem of an increasing number of foreign fighters from the region who have joined the Islamic State or the Al Nusrah Front is a constantly present threat to the region. The Islamic State is encouraging Muslims in the region to start a fight against the “new world” and join their mission. These new developments are of concern to the international community who is afraid that old wounds could be reopened and instability and chaos would prevail. 9 Keynote Speech Susan Woodward When I accepted this invitation to speak today, I thought I was attending a conference on Regional Stability in South East Europe. Only later did I learn that the actual agenda for the meeting is on Confronting Violent Ex- tremism. Are these related in any way? I will argue that they are not, but that we do need to ask this question – are they related and if so how – and to be quite open and explicit about our answers, whichever position each one of us takes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Effects of Nationalism on Territorial Integrity Among Armenians and Serbs Nina Patelic
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2008 The Effects of Nationalism on Territorial Integrity Among Armenians and Serbs Nina Patelic Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES THE EFFECTS OF NATIONALISM ON TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AMONG ARMENIANS AND SERBS By Nina Patelic A Thesis submitted to the Department of International Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2008 The members of the Committee approve the thesis of Nina Pantelic, defended on September 28th, 2007. ------------------------------- Jonathan Grant Professor Directing Thesis ------------------------------- Peter Garretson Committee Member ------------------------------- Mark Souva Committee Member The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii ACKOWLEDGEMENTS This paper could not have been written without the academic insight of my thesis committee members, as well as Dr. Kotchikian. I would also like to thank my parents Dr. Svetlana Adamovic and Dr. Predrag Pantelic, my grandfather Dr. Ljubisa Adamovic, my sister Ana Pantelic, and my best friend, Jason Wiggins, who have all supported me over the years. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………..v INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………….1 1. NATIONALISM, AND HOW IT DEVELOPED IN SERBIA AND ARMENIA...6 2. THE CONFLICT OVER KOSOVO AND METOHIJA…………………………...27 3. THE CONFLICT OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH……………………………..56 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………...……….89 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………93 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH………………………………………………………….101 iv ABSTRACT Nationalism has been a driving force in both nation building and in spurring high levels of violence. As nations have become the norm in modern day society, nationalism has become detrimental to international law, which protects the powers of sovereignty.
    [Show full text]
  • Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
    Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Threats to European Security Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI is an independent institute for research into problems of peace and conflict, especially those of arms control and disarmament. It was established in 1966 to commemorate Sweden’s 150 years of unbroken peace. The Institute is financed mainly by the Swedish Parliament. The staff, the Governing Board and the Scientific Council are international. The Governing Board and the Scientific Council are not responsible for the views expressed in the publications of the Institute. Governing Board Professor Daniel Tarschys, MP, Chairman (Sweden) Sir Brian Urquhart, Vice Chairman (United Kingdom) Professor Catherine Kelleher (United States) Dr Oscar Arias Sánchez (Costa Rica) Dr Gyula Horn (Hungary) Dr Lothar Rühl (Germany) The Director Director Dr Adam Daniel Rotfeld (Poland) Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Pipers väg 28, S-170 73 Solna, Sweden Cable: SIPRI Telephone: 46 8/655 97 00 Telefax: 46 8/655 97 33 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Threats to European Security SIPRI Research Report No. 5 Stephen Iwan Griffiths OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1993 Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6DP Oxford New York Toronto Delhi Bombay Calcutta Madras Karachi Kuala Lumpur Singapore Hong Kong Tokyo Nairobi Dar es Salaam Cape Town Melbourne Auckland Madrid and associated companies in Berlin Ibadan Oxford is a trade mark of Oxford University Press Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York © SIPRI 1993 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.
    [Show full text]
  • THE WARP of the SERBIAN IDENTITY Anti-Westernism, Russophilia, Traditionalism
    HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA studies17 THE WARP OF THE SERBIAN IDENTITY anti-westernism, russophilia, traditionalism... BELGRADE, 2016 THE WARP OF THE SERBIAN IDENTITY Anti-westernism, russophilia, traditionalism… Edition: Studies No. 17 Publisher: Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia www.helsinki.org.rs For the publisher: Sonja Biserko Reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Dubravka Stojanović Prof. Dr. Momir Samardžić Dr Hrvoje Klasić Layout and design: Ivan Hrašovec Printed by: Grafiprof, Belgrade Circulation: 200 ISBN 978-86-7208-203-6 This publication is a part of the project “Serbian Identity in the 21st Century” implemented with the assistance from the Open Society Foundation – Serbia. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Open Society Foundation – Serbia. CONTENTS Publisher’s Note . 5 TRANSITION AND IDENTITIES JOVAN KOMŠIĆ Democratic Transition And Identities . 11 LATINKA PEROVIĆ Serbian-Russian Historical Analogies . 57 MILAN SUBOTIĆ, A Different Russia: From Serbia’s Perspective . 83 SRĐAN BARIŠIĆ The Role of the Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches in Shaping Governmental Policies . 105 RUSSIA’S SOFT POWER DR. JELICA KURJAK “Soft Power” in the Service of Foreign Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation . 129 DR MILIVOJ BEŠLIN A “New” History For A New Identity . 139 SONJA BISERKO, SEŠKA STANOJLOVIĆ Russia’s Soft Power Expands . 157 SERBIA, EU, EAST DR BORIS VARGA Belgrade And Kiev Between Brussels And Moscow . 169 DIMITRIJE BOAROV More Politics Than Business . 215 PETAR POPOVIĆ Serbian-Russian Joint Military Exercise . 235 SONJA BISERKO Russia and NATO: A Test of Strength over Montenegro .
    [Show full text]
  • Proselytization in Albania by Middle Eastern Islamic Organizations
    Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2009-03 Proselytization in Albania by Middle Eastern Islamic organizations Kullolli, Arben. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/4918 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS PROSELYTIZATION IN ALBANIA BY MIDDLE EASTERN ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONS by Arben Kullolli March 2009 Thesis Co-Advisors: Abbas Kadhim Zachary Shore Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED March 2009 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Proselytization in Albania by Middle Eastern Islamic 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Organizations 6. AUTHOR(S) Arben Kullolli 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943-5000 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • IHRC Newsletter 2011
    Muslim Azerbaijan: Hold on to the Awakening Hijab ban rope of Allah PAGE 6 PAGE 9 PAGE 12 VOLUME 12 - RAMADAN 1432 / AUGUST 2011 In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate THE AIMS OF TURNING TO THE ISLAMIC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ALLAH FOR I To champion the rights and duties revealed for human beings. LIBERATION I To promote a new social and international order, based on truth, justice, righteousness and generosity, rather than self-interest. I To demand virtue and oppose wrongdoing in the exercise of power (from whatever base that power derives - e.g. political, judicial, media, economic, military, personal, etc.). I To gather information about, and to publicise, atrocities, oppression, discrimination, and other abuses of divinely-granted rights. I To campaign for redress, and to support the victims of such crimes. I To campaign to Egyptians attend Friday prayers at a rally at Cairo's Tahrir Square during a protest calling for national unity and expressed solidarity bring the with the Palestinians as they mark the Nakba. perpetrators and their accomplices to justice. udyard Kipling later emancipated themselves Muslim political thought. The Arab Spring one nation after famously remarked from the direct clutches of their way its sociopolitical role in another is rising up catching the I To cooperate with in his poem The colonial rulers, their influence Muslim societies has evolved West off guard. Who knew that a other groups and Ballad of East and remained. Imam Zaid Shakir has been shaped by un-Islamic 26 year-old Tunisians individuals where R West: “Oh, East is puts it well in his recent article realities such as colonization and Mohammed Bouazizi's suicide East, and West is ‘Reflections on The Islamic the Cold War, and by un-Islamic would shake up the brutal such cooperation is West, and never the twain shall Legitimacy of the Muslim institutions such as the regimes in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Celebrating Zionism's Roots in Serbia Israelis Are Increasingly Heading to the Balkans for Leisure and Adventure
    HISTORY ו 5נ״ס,ואתוןן היאהאעיה ל*!׳ to ומשסזי) > " " i Vf־< [*rpTsJi^t ■:־־ד1ומ ■:vr:׳/r- ועע א:י.ו *וו TEODORA HERC1A י *':יי־ Yl Rivka iei - Rebecca Herzl ^’na/boi! ’9b.umrla/died I88S hlk> aHircIa '■'Aft f Theodor Herzl° י11110, ‘ ן_<■.~y~— ף— ?W■ a! T* -*<״ warn , י ■ * .K a A sign marking Theodor Herzl Street, written in Serbian in Cyrillic and Latin script. The The tomb of Theodor Herzl's paternal grandmother, Rebecca street was renamed in Herzl's honor in a state ceremony this past July. (Ronen shnidman) Herzl, in Zemun's Jewish cemetery. (Ronen shnidman) Celebrating Zionism's roots in Serbia Israelis are increasingly heading to the Balkans for leisure and adventure. But our history with Serbia goes back a lot farther By RONEN SHNIDMAN modern Zionist movement, but his ideas are usually or the election of a political leader, known from the rabbin- mentioned in passing if at all. Likewise, there is very limited ical literature as the Messiah son of Joseph. resident Reuven Rivlin visited Serbia this past July scholarship regarding how this Sephardi rabbi on the edge to participate in a ceremony with Serbian President of an empire came to his revolutionary ideas for the return Taking from Kabbala and Serbian nationalism Aleksandar Vucic renaming a street after the Zionist of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. Historians and After the Damascus Blood Libel in 1840, Alkalai’s work Pvisionary Theodor Herzl in the Belgrade neighborhoodliterary experts have pointed to the influence of the radical acquired a more urgent nature and his writings included a of Zemun.
    [Show full text]
  • Islamic Actors' Support for Democracy and European Integration: a Case for PowerSeeking?
    Arolda Elbasani Beken Saatçioğlu Islamic Actors' Support for Democracy and European Integration: A Case for Power-Seeking? Discussion Paper SP IV 2011–801 December 2011 WZB Rule of Law Center Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH Reichpietschufer 50 10785 Berlin Germany www.wzb.eu Copyright remains with the author(s). Discussion papers of the WZB serve to disseminate the research results of work in progress prior to publication to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. Inclusion of a paper in the discussion paper series does not constitute publication and should not limit publication in any other venue. The discussion papers published by the WZB represent the views of the respective author(s) and not of the institute as a whole. Arolda Elbasani and Beken Saatçioğlu Islamic Actors' Support for Democracy and European Integration: A Case for Power-Seeking? Discussion Paper SP IV 2011–801 Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (2011) Affiliation of the authors other than WZB: Arolda Elbasani Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy at Columbia University (New York) Beken Saatçioğlu Adjunct Faculty, Boğaziçi University (Istanbul) Abstract Islamic Actors' Support for Democracy and European Integration: A Case for Power-Seeking? by Arolda Elbasani and Beken Saatçioğlu This paper investigates when and how Islamic political actors support democracy, and in particular, the EU’s democratic criteria subsumed under membership conditionality. The research focuses on the main Islamic organizations in two Muslim-majority, EU applicant states, Turkey and Albania. The analysis suggests that Islamic actors endorsed democratic rules based on a rationalist logic, which combines interest-driven and ideational concerns.
    [Show full text]
  • Nationalism, Myth, and the State in Russia and Serbia: Russian and East European Government Politics and Policy
    Published on Reviews in History (http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews) Nationalism, Myth, and the State in Russia and Serbia: Russian and East European Government Politics and Policy Review Number: 1990 Publish date: Thursday, 15 September, 2016 Author: Veljko Vuja?i? ISBN: 9781107074088 Date of Publication: 2015 Price: £58.49 Pages: 336pp. Publisher: Cambridge University Press Publisher url: http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/russian-and-east-european- government-politics-and-policy/nationalism-myth-and-state-russia-and-serbia-antecedents-dissolution-soviet- union-and-yugoslavia?format=HB Place of Publication: Cambridge Reviewer: Jasna Dragovic-Soso The disintegration of communist federations at the end of the Cold War represented the most momentous reconfiguration of the boundaries of Eastern Europe since 1945. Not only did dominant ideologies and power centres that had defined Europe’s political, social and economic life implode rather suddenly, but states that had been in existence for most of the 20th century rather unexpectedly disappeared from the map within the span of a few years. In this redrawing of Europe’s eastern borders, the Czecho-Slovak ‘velvet divorce’ and the largely peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union stood in stark contrast to Yugoslavia’s violent disintegration, which cost over 130,000 lives and the brutal displacement of at least two million people throughout the region and beyond (Glas inicijative REKOM, January 2013). The contrast between the dissolutions of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union is particularly striking when taking into account the similar position of the two dominant nations, the Serbs and the Russians, a significant proportion of whom were left outside the borders of the new Serbian and Russian states.
    [Show full text]
  • The Serbian Paradox: the Cost of Integration Into the European Union
    The Serbian Paradox: The Cost of Integration into the European Union Preston Huennekens Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Political Science Yannis A. Stivachtis, Chair Besnik Pula Glenn R. Bugh April 17, 2018 Blacksburg, VA Keywords: Serbia, European Union, historical memory, nationalism, Balkan politics The Serbian Paradox: The Cost of Integration into the European Union Preston Huennekens Abstract This project addresses the Republic of Serbia’s current accession negotiations with the European Union, and asks how the country’s long and often turbulent history affects that dialogue. Using Filip Ejdus’ concept of historical memory and Benedict Anderson’s “imagined community” theory of nationalism, this paper discusses how Serbia has reached a critical moment in its history by pursuing European integration. This contradicts their historical pull towards their longtime ally Russia. What role does historical memory play in these negotiations, and is integration truly possible? Additionally, how is Serbia’s powerful president, Aleksandar Vucic, using the Europeanization process to strengthen his hand domestically? Abstract (General Audience) This thesis addresses the Republic of Serbia’s current accession negotiations with the European Union, and asks how the country’s long and often turbulent history affects that dialogue. I argue that Serbia is at a crossroads in its history: on one hand, it wishes to join the European Union, but on the other is continually pulled to the east with their historical ally, Russia. I argue that President Aleksandar Vucic is using the EU negotiations to enhance his own power and that if the EU admits Serbia into the body they will be trading regional stability for Serbian democracy.
    [Show full text]
  • Balkan Minds: Transnational Nationalism and the Transformation of South Slavic Immigrant Identity in Chicago, 1890-1941
    Loyola University Chicago Loyola eCommons Dissertations (1 year embargo) 2012 Balkan Minds: Transnational Nationalism and the Transformation of South Slavic Immigrant Identity in Chicago, 1890-1941 Dejan Kralj Loyola University Chicago Follow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss_1yr Part of the Slavic Languages and Societies Commons Recommended Citation Kralj, Dejan, "Balkan Minds: Transnational Nationalism and the Transformation of South Slavic Immigrant Identity in Chicago, 1890-1941" (2012). Dissertations (1 year embargo). 4. https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss_1yr/4 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by Loyola eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations (1 year embargo) by an authorized administrator of Loyola eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. Copyright © 2012 Dejan Kralj LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO BALKAN MINDS: TRANSNATIONAL NATIONALISM & THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOUTH SLAVIC IMMIGRANT IDENTITY IN CHICAGO, 1890-1941 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM IN HISTORY BY DEJAN KRALJ CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MAY 2012 Copyright by Dejan Kralj, 2012 All rights reserved. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is quite a difficult task to thank everyone that has helped me throughout this epic scholarly journey. However, many deserve recognition for the roles they played guiding me through to the end of my graduate career. Foremost in mind, I must thank Lillian Hardison, the heart and soul of the history graduate department at Loyola. Your support and friendship have meant the world to me and countless other graduate students that have made their way through the program.
    [Show full text]
  • Self-Determination Movements in the Former Soviet Union
    SOVEREIGNTY AFTER EMPIRE Self-Determination Movements in the Former Soviet Union Galina Starovoitova UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE CONTENTS Key Points v Foreword ix 1 Introduction 1 2 Contemporary Nationalism and the Problem of Self-Determination 3 3 Hopes and Disappointments: Case Studies 9 4 Approaches of Decision Makers: Interviews with Mikhail Gorbachev, Jack Matlock, Sam Nunn, and Margaret Thatcher 30 5 Criteria for Self-Determination 36 6 Conclusion 39 Notes 41 Acknowledgments 43 About the Author 45 About the Institute 47 v on case studies and the observations of political lead- ers and top-level foreign policy officials. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTEMPORARY NATIONALISM Contrary to the scenarios of global integration, nation- alism has not weakened in global society, but has, in KEY POINTS fact, gained strength. National feelings are rooted in the idea of a linguistic, religious, and psychological community based on the ancient kinship of the mem- bers of a given ethnic group. Only a powerful internal security apparatus could maintain the Soviet Union’s facade of a multinational socialist federation, so it is not surprising that the em- pire disintegrated upon communism’s discreditation. The Soviet republics exercised their right to secede soon after the August 1991 putsch. Holding a status below the union republics in the Soviet hierarchical system, autonomous territories were not so privileged. INTRODUCTION THE UNATTAINABLE RIGHT TO SELF- DETERMINATION The “right” to self-determination has recently reemerged as the focus of much debate, as its fulfill- At a time when ethnic groups are striving to affirm ment—or denial—quite often results in mass violence.
    [Show full text]
  • Serbian Nationalism and the Origins of the Yugoslave Crisis
    Denver Journal of International Law & Policy Volume 26 Number 1 Fall Article 7 May 2020 Serbian Nationalism and the Origins of the Yugoslave Crisis Cindy Ferrier Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/djilp Recommended Citation Serbian Nationalism and the Origins of the Yugoslave Crisis, 26 Denv. J. Int'l L. & Pol'y 143 (1997). This Book Note is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Denver Journal of International Law & Policy by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],dig- [email protected]. Book Notes VESNA PESIC, SERBIAN NATIONALISM AND THE ORIGINS OF THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS; Peaceworks No. 8; United Nations Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C. (1996); 41 pp. (paperback). For free copies, contact United States Institute of Peace. Serbian Nationalism and the Origins of the Yugoslav Crisis is the eighth paper in the Peaceworks series published by the United States Institute of Peace. The Peaceworks series is intended to promote peace- ful solutions to international conflicts by disclosing the findings of the nonpartisan institution created by Congress. The author of this study, Vesna Pesic, takes seriously the roles of researcher and suggestion- maker by writing a concise and understandable survey of the begin- nings of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Her study includes sugges- tions for the international community. She intends for her suggestions to be considered when countries erupt with internal crises which re- semble Yugoslavia's struggle with a variety of ethnic groups attempting to maintain separate cultural and political control for each ethnicity.
    [Show full text]