CEU eTD Collection In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Master of of degree forthe requirements the of fulfillment In partial Vojvodinian Regional Identity: A Social Fact or a Fact ASocial Identity: Regional Vojvodinian Supervisor: Professor András Kovács András Professor Supervisor: Department of Nationalism Studies ofNationalism Department Central European University European Central Modern Construct? Modern Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Jovana Saracevic Submitted to Submitted 2012 By CEU eTD Collection the youth from different ethnic groups of Vojvodina. of groups ethnic different youth from the feelings of other identifications.powerful Also,no striking differences were noticed between notexclude the participants, butthatregional place mostof feelings do important identity for members were part of the research. The findings indicate that regionalidentity does take an observed between the different ethnic groups (Hungarian,Serb, Romanian,Greek), whose identity building. surroundinghow much the their feelings current discourse match political Vojvodinian the purpose to establishIt whether the young people have developed regionalalso identity feelings and the with Vojvodina, of youth aimed the with interviews and groups focus includes thesis this of part empirical The to building. identity regional establish the in actors public and political different whetheremergence the of regional identity and discussing political implications as well as motives of differences identity idea, analyzing the specific socio-historical features of the province that allowforthe infocuses on the Vojvodinian identity examining who supportsthis and who opposes the regional respectwell as the features thatit make attractive tothe inhabitantsregions. of the Moreover, thesis can beethnic andreligious. This thesis analyzes the andemergenceconcept ofregional identity,as national, as such identities, powerful other with compete to able is which identification social In certain circumstances, regional identity distinguishes itself as a very important type of Abstract i CEU eTD Collection My My special gratitude goes to Ivan, forbeing there me. for family makingfor the time spent in Budapest memorable. I am especially thankful to my sister Milica for herYouth Forum of Vojvodina and theirsupport director Lidia Jakus. and assistance togratitude the participants in researchthe for patiently answering the all questions tothe and and to my CEU patience and guidance My deepest gratitude for goeshis to immense my Kovács, supervisor,help, Prof. András during my thesis writing process. I would also like to express my Acknowledgments ii CEU eTD Collection Chapter 2 – Literature Review...... Literature– Review...... 8 2 Chapter Chapter 1 – Introduction – 1 1 Chapter ...... Chapter 4 - Political Implications:Chapter 4 Vojvodina’s Autonomy ...... 42 Chapter 3 – Vojvodina...... 22 Vojvodina...... – 3 Chapter Chapter 6 – Conclusions – 60 6 Chapter ...... InterviewstheGroups - Answersand Focus from 5 Chapter ...... 50 2.1. Terms Defined 2.4. Aspects of Regional Identity 2.3. Cultural Pluralism as aHeritage 2.2. Theoretical Framework 1.2. 1.1. 4.2.The Two Sides of Autonomy Sides Two 4.2.The 4.1.The Short History of Vojvodina’s Autonomy of Vojvodina’s History Short 4.1.The 3.4. Influential Actors in the Regional Identity Building Identity the Regional in Actors Influential 3.4. Today Identity Regional Vojvodinian 3.3. Regionalization and ofVojvodina Status Political 3.2. 3.1. Demographics ofVojvodina Demographics 3.1. Bibliography 5.1. Subjects and Method of the Research 5.3. Analysis of the Answers 5.2. The Nature of the Questions Methodology the Spotlight in Identity Vojvodinian ...... 63 ...... 8 ...... 4 ...... 12 ...... 55 ...... 53 ...... 22 ...... 44 ...... 17 ...... 16 ...... Table ofContents Table ...... 50 ...... 30 ...... 1 ...... iii ...... 42 ...... 28 ...... 36 ...... CEU eTD Collection billboards and posters with the following message: “I am Vojvodinian - I am what I am. I do center andthe capital of the Autonomous Province ofVojvodina, containednumerous I will opt for the term NGObecause termthat was used during the period thatthis thesis deals with. 1 1.1. topic fits into thelarger context regional of politics. of Serbia, both whichof are burningissues inthecurrent political debates. Therefore this research it isbecause closely to thetopicsconnected of decentralization andregionalization is it an actual fact of the Vojvodinian itwords, to isimportant establish if identity regional onlyin exists thediscourse or political society. Moreover, thisfor Vojvodinians is also and whata significant actors are responsible subjectfor its diffusion of among the people. In other examine. to is interesting identity the regional that functions of this dichotomy to due timesidentities. At its integrative character overits and prevails attributes, disintegrative it is specific type of social identification distinguishable from ethnic, national and religious demographic changes and cultural and ethnic diversity,the Vojvodinian identity istoday a NGOs developing as a result regional At theidentity. samethe time, Vojvodinian has identity spontaneously been of the interaction the of features the shaping place have taken elites intellectual and thepolitical of opinions of the people havethis of givenabout intense exchanges andregional topic views been identity. Different and as one effect of the media and Chapter 1–Introduction The current discourse implies that these organizations are now called Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), but (CSOs), Organizations Society Civil called now are organizations these that implies discourse The current Vojvodinian Identity in the Spotlight in the Identity Vojvodinian 1 During the population census in Serbia in 2011 Novi Sad, the main administrative Another aspect is important finding outhow much resonance regional identity talk has Many a question has been raisedabout the existence and substance ofthe Vojvodinian specificdevelopments, of historic The outcome region.activewhichin the are 1 CEU eTD Collection http://www.saulproject.net/downloads/A%20Sense%20of%20Place/Rhein%20Ruhr%20symposium/W%20Kna Landscapes, http://www.slobodnavojvodina.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=190:izjasni-se-kao- 4 No.4, (2003): pp. 475-485. vojvoanin-ili-vojvoanka&catid=3:akcija&Itemid=16 2 territorial sense, unrelated to ethnic or national identity. As such, it is a form of non-national pp.pdf the and ofexpectations’. the region structures the regions with the ideas ofthe regional community formed by the inhabitants, the images of andsocial actors, institutions andpolitical structures in the region. often employed by scholars in order to better comprehend the connection between political contemporary era of the ‘Europe of the regions’.became the one of the key inwords identity studies soon after andeven somore in the It is the concept of regional identityacademic that is discourse longmany realities.other As atheoretical concept, regionalism has also been present in the before its rebirthmeanings has both microand macro scales, andit covers personal, national, social,ethnic andin the 1980’s. nationalist discourse and among the scholars of nationalism studies. Its broad scope of in Vojvodina. identity much debate and pointedto the already existing but recently revisited concept of regional Nevertheless, they of did approve the message thethat campaign was sending,which caused these billboards, although the party leaders denied being of thea part campaign. thatthe political party LSV (League of Social Democrats Vojvodina)of financially supported campaign a as Facebook group under the same name as the campaign’s. It was speculated anonymous, later identifiedbut as the NGO League ofSocial Equality. firstly were these Thebillboards it.” of to a return authors Europe, but path not wantto a 3 Wolfgang Knapp, “Regional Identity – A Conceptual Framework.” Conceptual – A Identity “Regional Knapp, Wolfgang “Declare Yourself as Vojvodinian! [Izjasni se kao Vojvodjanin ili Vojvodjanka!], ili Vojvodjanin se kao [Izjasni asVojvodinian! Yourself “Declare Anssi Paasi, Anssi As a variant of social identity, regional identity ‘integrates the material phenomena of Identity is one of the most widely used terms and the ultimate catchphrase in the SAUL Symposium No.1 (2003),accessed on 14Nov 2011 “Region and Place: Regional Identity in Question.” in Identity Regional Place: and “Region accessed on 5May 2012 2 4 Furthermore, it is most often expressed in a Progress Humanin Geography, Sustainable and Accessible Urban 3 it, identity regional In to relation Slobodna Vojvodina 2 the started They Vol. portal 27, , CEU eTD Collection that represents more to its inhabitants than a mere region only as a geographical space,also but asa livedspace, a place of memory a placeand sentiment. regional elements beconsideredto in the analysis of emergencethe and further developmentthe of prosperity of Vojvodina significantlyas to the national budget.well Consequently, regional financing and economicas the question Vojvodinaof is the richest province in Serbia regarding thenaturaldecentralization resources andcontributes land arable of percent 70 nearly with Moreover, region. the in also coexistence ethnic peaceful of represent important Vojvodina. However, I would like to analyze it in a wider context, offering on. an answer to thedepend it does circumstances what also and identity regional their to attribute Vojvodinians national identities. Itis one ofthe goals this of to determinethesis how much significance powerful social identifications, oftentimes it does not have the appeal of the ethnic and residing in region,a particular or atthe very least ithas the compete withability to other groups national and ethnic between differences the bridge to the potential has identity exist in a hierarchy, but rather gain priority dependingin Serbia. Vojvodina’sMoreover, inhabitants havemultiple identities thaton not necessarily do a context. However, while regional is particularly true because of its diverse ethnic composition, which makes the region unique Vojvodina officialweb site, accessed on 15Nov 2011 6 http://www.vojvodina.gov.rs/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=174&Itemid=83 5 due to the multiethnic composition of its population theof to composition multiethnic due different ethnic groups. Regional identity in Vojvodina is a particularly interesting example non-ethnicand which belonging, could potentially be useful in diminishing frictions between Provincial Secretariat for Urban Construction and Environmental Protection, Autonomous Province of Nov 2011 on 15 accessed site, web official of Vojvodina Province Autonomous of the The Government The analysis regionalof identity is complex because one not should understanda The framework of my research is the analysis of regional identity building in http://www.eko.vojvodina.gov.rs/?q=node/12 3 locus vivendi 5 , cultural pluralism and the long tradition long the and pluralism cultural , . In the case of Vojvodina this 6 CEU eTD Collection unitsgeographical and spaces,but it also includes the aspect ofhuman relations and social people mean when they say these terms not does refer strictly to regions as administrative meanings significanceand residing that people in a particular region What toit. ascribe andregional identity. More precisely,vagueness and geographical elusiveness exist in the regionalism region, of meanings and definitions to in relation inconsistencies and ambiguities identity,political, social and other important actors. In the analysis of the construction of Vojvodinian I will begin by analyzing the terminology of regionalism and point to the 1.2. thewhattowards toattachment Vojvodina.province extentemotional exists and towards feel they connection a strong how to know interested I am Put differently, identification. Vojvodinians consider this province to be more an administrative unit ora space of political implications of such a development. Moreover, I will examine whether the Vojvodinian regional identity re-emerged in the politicalNamely, discourse and what are the possible in theanswers,I would like tofocus the on question that is relatedspecifically Vojvodina. contextto of the 2011 populationVojvodina towards Europe. censusactors in thisin process Serbia,and relations between Vojvodina and andI Serbiathewill regionalong with itself, Vojvodinians theof relationsspecificities analyze the prominence account into of take I will question, this of answering In theidentity? regional why identity thesentiment as well asidentity theattractive to the peopleinfluential inhabiting a certain region, compared to other forms of importantandother identities in In certain contexts? other words, what makes regional ethnic national, with compete to identity regional for possible it is Why question: following Methodology Regional identity building is a complex process which consists of interaction between After having examined this theoretic question and after having analyzed possible analyzed having after and question this theoretic examined having After 4 CEU eTD Collection Sciences and Arts was re-founded in 2003, after having been abolished under Milosevic’s 2012 and publication of Vojvodina’s own Statute. Furthermore, the Vojvodina Academy of a in with theminority province,indealing increase budget autonomous improvement rights, regime. In the last decade the state’s policies included liberalrestitution during the time of Tito’s Yugoslavia to its veryof oppositeVojvodina’s under Slobodan Milosevic’s status as an infrastructure and culture. In the province’s recent history, these policies varied from quite budget allocation andother state policies regarding the province, suchas those regarding Consequently, the quest for more autonomy in Vojvodina is also linked with the Vojvodinaregion’s directly is related to the relations between the region andthe central government. wars. Yugoslav the recently Vojvodinians and demographic changes in Vojvodina since the Second World War and more of ‘Europeaness’ of the claim and aspirations the European Serbia, in government closely the to relations between the regional government in Vojvodina andthe central which Vojvodinian identityregional building has been influenced by latter,the one mustlook approach and theof the regional identityinfluence building, one should take into consideration both the ‘top-down’ of theactors working ‘from below’.I will thus demonstrate that in order actorstohave a thorough analysis ‘from below’.change of the people from the region, media, social networks, NGOs and other important In order political leadersandelites,is ofthe aproduct it active also participation in societal the to examine the approach.extent Regional identity building in Vojvodina does not depend solely on the role of the to another. and meanings regionsof and regional identity that not do necessarily coincide with one circumstances. Furthermore, scholars inthe academic literature also offer several definitions Moreover, I will also argue that the strength and prominence of regional identity in In the analysis of the emergence of regional identity, I will focus on the constructivist 5 CEU eTD Collection http://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/vojvodina/budzet-vojvodine-u-2012.-veci-za-tri-milijarde-dinara_289761.html school students).high andgraduating students (university province the from I people young with groups foundfocus that interviewingwhich will be included in the thesis. Specifically, I am conducting interviews and several and focus groups if it isdependentare on a certain context, my methodology consists of a small-scale research the most useful and time- identities. a few. Consequently, one Vojvodinianscan belong to different ethnic, national,inferreligious and language groups, to name justthat they have by Vojvodina isa ofmorethan five inhabited region people differenttwenty ethnicities. many differentNamely, pluralism. religious and ethnic andcultural, Vojvodina’s possibly to due important especially is overlapping perceivedas a possibility for anincrease in the levels of ethnic tolerance in the region,which be suggested is that the promotion of Vojvodinian regional identity can and should be dependent on the multiple factors andinfluential mentionedactors above. However, what will autonomy, that beindicated regional identity and the itshould link exist anddoes that itis actors. the theof social andanalysis interplay non-governmental, economic of different political, http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Kultura/Kako-je-osnovana-prva-Vojvodjanska-akademija-nauka.lt.html nauka]”, akademija Vojvodjanska 7 economic intoinput the national budget. should not be disregarded particularly due to the province’s natural wealth and considerable greater autonomy of the province. Additionally, the question of regional financing and budget feeling attachmentof tothe province Vojvodina of affect andinfluence the claims for a veci za tri milijarde dinara], milijarde zatri veci 2012. u Vojvodine [Budzet Dinars Billion Three for Larger 2012. in Budget Vojvodina’s budget; national the of 8 regime in 1992. Danica Radovic, “How Was the First Vojvodina Academy of Sciences Founded? [Kako je osnovana prva osnovana je [Kako Founded? Sciences of Academy Vojvodina First the Was “How Radovic, Danica Vojvodina’s budget in 2012 had been increased for over 27 million euros, constituting approximately 9 percent In order to assess how important is regional identity to Vojvodinians and to determine and Vojvodinians to identity isregional important how to assess order In between thelink of nature is the what certainty with claim cannot one Although 7 In this framework, I would like to investigate how do regional identity and identity regional do how investigate liketo Iwould framework, In this Radio Televizija Vojvodine Politika Politika Online, 8 It is in this context that I find useful references for 15 Jan 2009 accessed on 20 Apr 2012 on 20 accessed 2009 Jan 15 15 Dec 2011 Accessed on 19 Apr 2012 6 CEU eTD Collection from different ethnic groups. and to2011 establish if compelling existbetween differences the ofparticipantsanswers about the campaign that was intended to promote the idea of Vojvodinian regional identity in importance it has in their everyday lives. It also seeks Vojvodinian youngerto generations examineabout their regional identity to and understand how much how informed the youth is influential the campaign was. intervieweesabout heard the campaign toand infer their from answers and reactions how Vojvodinian “Iam campaign 2011 the about questions the with identity Vojvodinian of topic the – I am who I am.”and I aspireTo tobe find precise, out which comesestablish thenature theof relationship between ethnic, national, local and regionalfirst identity, I foram the Vojvodinianinterestedon youth.the extent Moreover, and identification social their in to to identity whichI regional introduce Vojvodinian of know prominence the they determining feelhow that muchthis particular the identity whatand role itdoes play in their everyday lives. My questions essentially focus on identity defines them. They also aim to general and unbiasedconclusions. Vojvodina who also come from severalresponsive and approachable. Hence, I opted for students of differentdifferent nationalities from towns in orderefficient means toconduct a research my for thesis andto thatyoung are people the most be able to come to some The purpose of this research is to portray general feelings and opinions of the of opinions and feelings general portray isto thisresearch of purpose The The general idea is to determine how young people feel about the Vojvodinian 7 CEU eTD Collection Observations on Regional Dynamics in Europe in Dynamics Regional on Observations 10 No. 4, (2003): pp.475-485. 11 9 cultural pluralism, inclination to decentralize and the complexity of the socio-politic relations socio-politic the of complexity the and decentralize to inclination pluralism, cultural ongoing re-scaling of the state.” fluid character.regionalism thatis analyzed inthe contemporary literature has amuchbroader,complex and In Paasi’sin the words aftermath “new regionalism ofspaces’. the isSecond bothHe asserts thethat this isWorld contextan old idea, but regionalism,that the rebirth of regionalismin literature and discourse dates back to the 1980’s in the War modernand context result asregions referattemptsAccording to ‘new statesof the discourse, regional identity has become the subject much of interest in oftothe pastfew decades. theintegration, Finish geographer and 2.1. Terms Definedthe Anssi ‘new’ Paasi,following pages. an eminent‘Europeanness’ scholar of the region.overall Theseof and manygeography other relevantreemergence in thetopics discourse which occurred not longso perceptionits ago, haveand will been quite regionalism useful for the about be and publications discussedother and articles Furthermore, identity. in regional on the of the topic Review Literature 2 – Chapter of regionalism in Vojvodina and its relation to the Anssi Paasi, “The Resurgence of the ‘Region’ and ‘Regional Identity’: Theoretical Perspectives and Empirical and Perspectives Theoretical Identity’: ‘Regional and ‘Region’ ofthe Resurgence “The Paasi, Anssi Ibid. Anssi Paasi, Anssi The difference between the two is that the ‘old’ regionalism refers to the steps taken Although it had been present for quite some time in the academic circles and political A vast literature exists on the topic of identity, and considerable part of it is focused 10 “Region and Place: Regional Identity in Question.” in Identity Regional Place: and “Region 11 Due to the multiethnic composition of Vojvodina, its Vojvodina, of composition multiethnic the to Due .” Review Internationalof Studies 8 Progress Humanin Geography , Vol. 35, (2009): pp. 121-146. , Vol. 27, 9 . CEU eTD Collection character of the province that differentiates it from other regions regions the other It isoft- of thatdifferentiatescharacterthe itfrom an country. province of frequent element ofpolitical indiscourse Vojvodinamostly aimed at establishing specificthe because the European character of the province along with the phrase ‘return to Europe’ is a sub-state unit thatexemplifies wellthe represented trend in framework mentionedthe above, Publishers, 2002. inherent connection iswith Europe emphasized, bypassing thenation state.” that distinguish them their from respectivenation states.Furthermore, “these regions’ unique features by the leaders Wolczuk point tothe fact that‘Europeaness’and and multiculturalism are traits often asstressed inhabitants of the regionsintegration has provided substantial incentivesof to the regional developments. BattCentral and and Eastern Europe insideto implement subsequently the changes in power the the distribution state. years now, Serbia is also disposed to follow the European Union’s trends andregulations and regional governance. Moreover, as a country that strivesan autonomous province of demandedSerbia andtosignificant acquired levels of autonomy becomeand an EU member for many smaller territorial units occurred. This is undoubtedly the case in Vojvodina as well, which asdecentralizationglobalization and around the world, transfer responsibilities of duties and to collapse of communism in Eastern and Central Europe and with the emergence of 13 12 of the state spaces as welldiscourse encompassing asthe idea of the ‘Europeshifts of the regions’ that epitomizes the re-scaling of power to smaller territorial units.will be analyzedin my research. Vojvodina in identity regional that context in this isprecisely it government, thecentral with Judy Batt and Kataryna Wolczuk (eds.) Region, State and Identity in Central and Eastern Europe andEastern Central in and Identity State Region, (eds.) Wolczuk and Kataryna Batt Judy Ibid. Furthermore, in the case of countries of Eastern and Central Europe the EU Moreover, Paasi stresses thatthe role of regions became particularly important in the 9 12 Namely,the after 13 Vojvodina is a . Frank Frank Cass . CEU eTD Collection Identity: The Case of Western Europe.” Western of The Case Identity: 276. 15 citizens. young region’s of the (NGOs, several regional and parties other influential individuals) in the regional actors identity of the building and feelings discourse the between the inconsistencies to points which region the pastof the was ‘European’ how uncertain are others European, feel still and some felt While province. of the character European 14 itbe canalsodefined through personal experiences and relationships. In this sense, what anda lived space.In otherwords,any place can be seen as an abstract administrative unit, but that in the discourse any geographical space can bearticulatedas an imagined community but geographical character the of region is also oftentimes elusive. suitable one. To beexact, he recognizes that theregion definedis as an administrative space, the purpose of my research,numerous definitions thisof I concept thatfind do not necessarily coincide with one another.the For definitionfind can also one but people, different to things different mean region does only not Namely, given by Marco Antonsich to be the most one surrounding the problems of economic prosperity andfinancial crisis. recent times, it seemsare likelythat to includesuch happens a frequentcompetition a a such which discourseunder Circumstances andethnic. and national influential place first the in regional Vojvodina identity discourse. has regional identity able to be compete with important typesbeenotherHowever, social of identification,in losingin most popularityidentity to theofthe to people inopposition put is it times at and traits important inhabitingmost their of one as politicians the rest of the country.did analyze.The European identity of Vojvodinians isfrequently highlighted by the regional In so doing, conditionsfind many areanalogies created with for the regions of Central and Eastern Europe that Batt and Wolczuk that seems to have mostrecipient audience among the older generations in the province. employed tool of the political and public actors active in the building of Vojvodinian identity Marco Antonsich, the to related of ambiguity level a expresses youth Vojvodinian the that showed thesis this in The research Although Vojvodina was not discussed in the previously mentioned book, one can Another important concept thatAnotherimportant concept will analyzed inbe my thesis is theregion itself. “ Exploring the Correspondence between Regional Forms of Governance and Regional of Governance Forms Regional between Correspondence the Exploring European Urban and Regional Studies 10 , Vol. 17, No.3, (2010): pp. 261 – 261 pp. (2010): No.3, 17, , Vol. 15 His main argument is 14 CEU eTD Collection Observations on Regional Dynamics in Europe in Dynamics Regional on Observations 20 No.4, (2003): pp. 475-485. 17 Landscapes, 19 18 fakultet Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju, 2007. p.62 16 its boundaries andthe resources therein are under the control of people.” main instruments of territoriality. asthe to borders pointing a region, and territory a between distinction aninteresting Accordingmakes to him “A territory differsHe of institutionalization. process in symbols institutionsthe and gain boundaries, their from a region in that changing entity, constituted according to rational choiceactual and needs. rights andobligations, anda ‘dynamic’ region that is a flexible, functional and potentially according whichto the region is aclearly anddemarcated distinguishable unitwith specific region, the of understanding a‘static’ between distinguishes thus, Tripkovic, interests. manifest theirto specific regionalidentity andbest fulfillneeds, common their and values economic and socio-cultural entity that allows for its inhabitants to successfully and fully existence. defines a region as a natural entity, which has spontaneously naturallyand come to better understood. societal, cultural and political attributes so that its historical and geographical components are mediated sphere ofsociety.The author decomposes the concept of region, combining to conceptualize the region not only as a geographical space, butalso asan institutionally space that they asconsider a particular region is ambiguous itself. people mean when they say regional identity is also ambiguous, just as thegeographical Anssi Paasi, “The Resurgence of the ‘Region’ and ‘Regional Identity’: Theoretical Perspectives and Empirical and Perspectives Theoretical Identity’: ‘Regional and ‘Region’ ofthe Resurgence “The Paasi, Anssi Anssi Paasi Anssi Ibid. p.63 Framework.” Conceptual – A Identity “Regional Knapp, Wolfgang Milan Tripkovic, Ljubinko Pusic and Srdjan Sljukic Crossroads of Serbia [Raskrsca Srbije], [Raskrsca Serbia of Crossroads Sljukic Srdjan and Pusic Ljubinko Tripkovic, Milan On thePaasi other hand, defines regions as ‘historically contingent processes’ reader the allows identity ofregional framework Knapp’s Wolfgang vein, asimilar In 17 SAUL Symposium No.1 (2003) According to him, a region is a relatively homogenous geographic, historical, geographic, homogenous relatively a is a region him, to According , “Region and Place: Regional Identity Question.” in Identity Regional Place: and “Region 16 Additionally, in the book “The Crossroads of Serbia”, Milan Tripkovic .” Review Internationalof Studies 11 Progress inHuman Geography Sustainable and Accessible Urban , Vol. 35, (2009): pp. 121-146. 20 18 However, through Filozofski , Vol. 27, , Vol. 19 which CEU eTD Collection 21 Brown and Company, 1969. Company, and Brown also interestedto lookat. not in itsand dualIt is creation only inVojvodinarecipients. this the people role of thatIam consideration that those whothe collectiveidentity is intendedfor may as well be participants identities of the people. To some extent,thatand itimplies thatit isprimarily political andthe cultural elites collective thatconstruct this is a limiting perspective that However, one cannot but recognizedoes the fact constructivist that is approach somewhat elitist, not take into constructed by the themselves;people it is a social construct andnot acultural given. constructivistof thought school as by stated and collective Frederik identity is Barth, the Namely,to according identities. the most ofsocial to be useful inthe analysis on the topic of identity and this research focuses on the identity constructivistin a theoretical framework. Avast and literature different theoretic existapproaches approach, which I find 2.2. Theoretical Framework in belonging the andexists heartsVojvodina’s minds of inhabitants. Namely, one aim of my research undisputed,is to analyze whether emotional but in an internationally state. Vojvodina’srecognizedas status an whatautonomous province is attachment this and feelingthesis of itbecause notdoes have internationally recognized borders and because itis a sub-state willunit also deal develop.with If one is to look at Vojvodina isthrough this lens,the one is to conclude thataspect it is a region between territory and region anddemonstrates the ways inwhich this relationship can further discussed by Antonsich. thesociety. of consciousness institutionalization aregion can emerge asa part the of territorial andstructure social Frederik Barth (ed.) Ethnic Groups and Boundaries: the Social Organization of Culture Difference. Culture of Organization Social the Boundaries: and Groups Ethnic (ed.) Barth Frederik Having given a concise overview of the key geographical I terms,will situate regional Paasi’s well-developed framework is very useful it because explains the relationship 12 Little, 21 CEU eTD Collection of this collectiveidentity. referred to in this thesis, due to theirregional identity, cluster thethirdterms andparticularly of descriptive‘groupness’ willbemostly attributes which best representthe termdescribing and itmore precisely. Although they are all applicablethe to concept of the meaning terms represent aparticular meaning aspectand of identity, aiming at aspecificfunction of understanding and social location Commonality,3. connectedness, 'groupness’. All these three different categories or clusters: 1. Identification andcategorization 2. Self- analytical weight. ‘identity’ its because meanings have been so proliferated that the term eventually lost its Identity” he which with co-authored Cooper, they Frederick the reconstruct very term pointsa flaw to in the identity studies in general. Tobe exact, in the chapter“Beyond works. mentioned in thepreviously theinhabitants identity of Vojvodina in theregional pattern discussed follow similar building the state. decentralizing of goal the with The Europeanization the with interplay regionalism combined elites regional of the regional and central governments, as well as the role of the 24 2003 23 Publishers, 2002. 22 organizations be could potential in allies the struggle againstcores centralizing the the 1990’s, which is when regional actors started to become aware that international claims. regionalminority and of identities withrebirth the ‘bottom-up’ communist statescoincided topic. To exact,be they stress thefact that the drive ‘Europeanize’to the newly created post- Rogers Brubaker, Ethnicity without Groups without Ethnicity Brubaker, Rogers – 1990 Authenticity, and Croatia, Istria, Borderland: aEuropean in Identity of “Politicization Ashbrook, John Judy Batt .” Nationalities Papers: The Journal of Nationalism and Ethnicity, 22 In addition, the constructivist approach is also scrutinized by Rogers Brubaker, who Moreover, the work of Batt and Wolczuk is a good analysis of the above mentioned John Ashbrook thedates same development inEasternCentral and Europe back to and Kataryna Wolczuk (eds.) Region, State and Identity in Central and Eastern Europe Eastern and Central in and Identity State Region, (eds.) Wolczuk and Kataryna 24 In so doing, Brubaker groups the terms with which toreplace ‘identity’in . Harvard. University Press, 2004. 13 Vol. 39, No. 6 (2011): pp.871 – 897. . Frank Frank Cass . 23 , so the CEU eTD Collection content. Asfar as the content of group beliefs is considered, Vojvodinians can saidbe to have by analytic orcomparable data. the people. Such statements are bold, quite oftenbecause they thanare more unsupported not clear that the core of Vojvodina’s regional identity lies in the commonvaluesbeliefs and of them, when cultural andbasis for arguments of the proponentsethnic of the Vojvodinian regional identity. According to pluralismformation, of the provincenot the ethnic, are racial Vojvodina, takenbecause he considers group beliefs to thebe most significant factors in thegroup or nationalinto consideration, belonging. It is precisely it is this premise that is the aware of the similarity.” the of aware aware that they share the same beliefsunique thatdefine their ‘groupness’ and become thus the group and make them differentbeliefs arethe mostimportant factor in group the formation, they because unite members of from the out-groups. In his words, “Group members are Identity: International Perspectives. International Identity: 25 27 step further, introducing the concept of ‘group beliefs’. individuals based on one simple criterion: whetherthey are in-group or out-group. further results in the tendency to view one’s owngroupfavorably to evaluateand other which membership, particular that to significance emotional attach also individuals group, 26 to. they belong groups different individualshis social identity theory, aside from acquiring a personal identity as uniquealso persons, havethe framework a socialof the socio-psychological identity, school of thought. According which to Henry Tajfel isand the expression of their membership in Henry Tajfel, Human Groups and Social Categories. Social and Human Groups Henry Tajfel, Ibid. Daniel Bar-Tal, Daniel Furthermore, Bar-TalFurthermore, classifies group beliefs inseveral categories based theiron Tajfel’s work set the basis for the social identity theory andDaniel Bar-Tal took it one As a variant of social and collective identity, regional identity is also adequately set in “ Group Beliefs as an Expression of Social Identity.” in Stephen Worchel (ed.) Social (ed.) Worchel Stephen in Identity.” of Social asan Expression Beliefs Group 27 I findthis argument to be importantfor the case study of SAGE PublicationsLtd, 1998. 25 aspecific to belong thatthey Apart fromtheknowledge Cambridge University Press, 1981. 14 26 Bar-Tal’s argumentis thatgroup CEU eTD Collection 28 za ljudska prava u Srbiji], 2006. Srbiji], u prava za ljudska odbor [Helsinski Serbia in Rights Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske [Biblioteka 24 No. regionalregional identity should not be disregarded either,as they are an inseparable element inthe identityviews harsh languageto groups andthediscredit of implications of dissimilar political discourse.Namely, both the opponentsInnot should forgotten be that factors many areat play in the regional identity discourse. other and the proponents words,the potential theto bridge differences of various thatgroups ethnic inhabit Vojvodina, it of the Vojvodinian the identitymotives at timesbroader understanding useand scope of identity than the one offereda by different ethnic groups.behindwidespread ethnic tolerance in the region andthat it willalso provide the grounds for a both theThe authorssupport values andclaim not ethnic belonging and that as such it should be further promoted and affirmed. and that theVojvodinianism, is that Vojvodinian identity is very particular, basedaffirmation largely on common of supporters the among influential been has which publication, this of argument main The ofDomonji. Pavel by edited it is and Vojvodinian figures political economists, historians, identityAmong willthese, bring aboutHCHRS seminars related tothis topic. a more publishedin the ofthepromotion idea regional of identity, also in but organizing conferences and a bookenterprise is Helsinkithe Committee for Human Rights in Serbia. This NGOhas been active whichthe Vojvodinianis a collectionetc. This is the view largely supported by NGOs workingregional on the promotion and diffusion of identity.sharedvalues: interethnic coexistence, tolerance, respect for different religions, languages of articles The NGO that has writtenbeen and still byis very active in this Pavel Domonji (ed.) Vojvodinian Identity [Vojvodjanski Identitet]. [Vojvodjanski Identity Vojvodinian (ed.) Domonji Pavel While the ideas that are in this context being promoted are indeed positive and have Moreover,many important publications wereas issued products of these conferences. 15 The Library of the Helsinki Notebook, Helsinki the of Library The 28 CEU eTD Collection nauke, [ 30 Reserve, University Western the Roma. This is mainly todue the influx Serbian of refugeesBosnia, from Croatia and for except decreased, populations and minority increased population theSerb of the number that sense inthe region the of demographics the in change asignificant about brought 1990’s the Second World War andespecially warsthe that ledto disintegration of Yugoslavia in 29 such a diverse ethnic composition of Vojvodina. National Minorities”, NadaRaduski indicates that constant are migrations the main cause of development. this to led that circumstances historical Also, while a consensus exists about the ethnic andcultural pluralism,one should pointthe to ethnic relations. good generally and pluralism cultural Vojvodinian of thepersistence about overstatements andat times biased conclusions,it does provide asuccinct historical overview peacefully during those difficult times. Eventhough this article contains occasional collaboration between different ethnic that groups different ethnicities coexistwere able to coexistence.He believes itthat isdue toVojvodina’s historical heritage as a place of was revoked along with many minority rights, it still remained the place of multiethnic autonomy Vojvodina’s when Milosevic, of regime the during even that claiming further step coexistence, unique among the republics offormer Yugoslavia. history of cultural pluralism.According to John Lauer, Vojvodina is the model of interethnic 2.3. Cultural Pluralism a Heritageas chapter four of this thesis. ofthe the topic and thisis considered be should building identity toregional opposition Multikulturalizam Vojvodine i demografski razvitak nacionalnih manjina]” nacionalnih razvitak demografski i Vojvodine Multikulturalizam Nada Raduski, “Multiculturalism in Vojvodina and Demographic Development of National Minorities. John Lauer, “Vojvodina, Serbia: Cornerstone of Democratization and Multi-ethnic Collaboration.” Vol. 131, (2010): pp.339-347. In herarticle “Multiculturalism in Vojvodina andDemographicDevelopment of One that ofthe features emphasized ismost the by Vojvodinachroniclers of isits EDMP 615, (2002). 16 30 The great colonization of Vojvodina after Vojvodina of colonization great The Zbornik Matice srpske za drustvene 29 He takes this argument one Case CEU eTD Collection point out that it has been a ‘soft’ tool in regionalactors. politics. Hence, it is identity is not an element nonfor sine regionsqua tobeefficientnecessary andcapable territorial to analyze spaces, not so much as administrative(France) prove his hypothesis, because the interviewees identifiedwith the regions as lived units, pointing to theLombardia (Italy), Pirkanmaa (Finland), fact North East England(UK) and Languedoc-Rousillon that a sentiment of regional Identity: The Case of Western Europe.” Western of The Case Identity: political, economic and social of roles the state. from the state to the region, even though regions as administrativeregion inhabitants.among its differently,Put collectiveidentity not seem does to transfer units have acquired many previously mentioned governance even if there is no sentiment of identification with the does not quite agree withimportant that element economic, makesregionsinto political and Antonsich social actors, this argument. InAnssi his opinion, Paasi regionsand importanceMarco of regional identity canfor the formation of regions as workingexist administrativeAntonsich. units: as spaces of Whilethe Paasi considers regional identity to be the most 276 31 2.4. Aspects of Regional Identity on thecohabitation in the region remain tostill discussed. be something that its inhabitants aregenuinely Yet,proud of. the effects thesethat features had and unique region make the that asfeatures stress identity Vojvodinian of the proponents that not seenbe as aninvariable the featureof region. Kosovo. The ethnic composition of Vojvodina hasthus been fluctuating over time and should Marco Antonsich, . Nevertheless, both authors attach significance tothe existence regional identity of and These two authors have greatly contributed to the discourse on the topic of the of topic the on discourse tothe contributed havegreatly authors two These Cultural pluralismethnic andheterogeneity are twomain the features ofthis province “ Exploring the Correspondence between Regional Forms of Governance and Regional of Governance Forms Regional between Correspondence the Exploring European Urban and Regional Studies 17 31 The research that Antonsich conductedin , Vol. 17, No.3, (2010): pp.261 – pp.261 (2010): No.3, 17, , Vol. CEU eTD Collection Lequesne (eds.) Regions in Europe in Regions (eds.) Lequesne 33 32 Consolidation in Eastern Europe Eastern in Consolidation 34 by the political leaders,intellectuals andmany other persons of influence who negotiate and identity not waitdoes tobe discovered”,that but itis rather theidentity reproduceddiscourse compete against the central governments nationalists.and regional leaders politicize identity their to own benefit sothat a movement is created to Another author who stronglytheir charisma andrhetoric play important an role in national the socialization of the people. agrees with this argument is Michael Keating, who states that culture.” history and into isit;inject it they of states makeout what andpoliticians, meaning are not simply waiting bediscoveredto […] Regional identity, therefore, is what people, Iverfrom Neumann: “regions are invented by political actors asa political programme, they feelings national of strengthening inthe role important very a have leaders political already anticipated but still valuable conclusions. Namely, oneoftheir findings was thatthe national theirattitudes, conceptualization and operationalization,Dekker etal. came to some regional of identity,I and butwill distinguish afew. In their innovative individuals’of study identity. substantial andsupport needfrom the part the of people themselvessuch for a collective of the elites politicaland actors, otherwise thecalled ‘top-down’ approach, there or were a analyzedthoroughly is whether regional identity building in Vojvodina is entirely a construct consider they share andconnectedness they feel with Europe. However, what has not been the specificities of Vojvodina, its regional identity, common traits that people in the province important actorsin the creation ofregional identity.Considerable literature can be found on Michael Keating, “Is there a Regional Level of Government in Europe?” in Patrick Le Gailes and Christian and LeGailes Patrick in Europe?” in of Government Level a Regional there “Is Keating, Michael Henk Dekker et al et Henk Dekker Iver Neumann, “Regionalism and Democratisation.” in Jan Zielonka and Alex Pravda (eds Pravda Alex and Jan Zielonka in Democratisation.” and “Regionalism Iver Neumann, In addition, another important emphasis on the the role of political leaders comes Many agree abouttheauthors importance the of political leaders inthe construction 34 Bill McSweeney gives a similar theory in his oft-quoted statementthat “collective . “ Nationalism and its Explanations.” its and Nationalism . Oxford UP, 2001. UP, Oxford . . Routledge, 1998. 18 Political Psychology 33 , Vol. 24, No. 2 (2003). No. 24, Vol. , .) Democratic 32 , and , CEU eTD Collection 35 population in Vojvodina is of the same ethnic belonging as the theone from central state (i.e. she withconstructivist dealt approach, andconcludedthis issue although that the majority for the prominence of regional identity, according to Mila Dragojevic. Using the in Vojvodina. The relationship between ethnicity and regionalism isanother relevant factor different than the one from the majority national group in Spain as a whole, it is not the case Serbia. point of reference formy analysis ofthe fluctuations theof relations between Vojvodina and 36 University Press, 1999. Spain best explained the variance in Basque regional nationalism.” conclusion thatthe cameto authors was that in ofBasques, the context toward “the attitude research andanalyze if their model is applicable inthe regional context as well. An important states, the Netherlands andSlovakia,in order to beable tocompare the findings oftheir Community Spain in of their research, along the with already recognizedand established and dispersion In follow thesameofconstruction other words,regional pattern feelings national attitudes. the hierarchies of positive andnegative regional-nationalas attitudes arethe same as the the national central in government setting it a historical context. ones. Dekkerimportant toanalyze the development of the relations between the local leaders and the etbuilt al. if a fertileincludedcollective identity. Nevertheless,one should also notforget thatidentity is most efficiently ground and several accounts thethat the role of the political leaders a is very important in the building of good Basquereceptionmanipulate the of the process creation of acollectiveimage. of Autonomousit already exist in the region. It is thus Bill McSweeney, Security, Identity and Interests: A Sociology of International Relations of International A Sociology Interests: and Identity Security, McSweeney, Bill Henk Dekker et al. et Henk Dekker However, while in casethe Basque the ethnic composition of the population is One other findingofDekker etal.that is particularly thisrelevant for research is that “ Nationalism and its Explanations.” its and Nationalism 19 Political Psychology 35 It may be inferred from these , Vol. 24, No. 2 (2003). No. 24, Vol. , 36 This is an important an is This . Cambridge. CEU eTD Collection Nationalities Papers: The Journal ofNationalism and Ethnicity 2009 Statute of Autonomy: Path Dependence Dynamics against the Reversal of Minority Policies”. 38 Nationalism, 37 analogies for the study of Vojvodina. Moreover,theoretical background, empirical examinations and case studies that will serve asuseful literature which has Vojvodinathe as regionthe main both as a geographical concept and a topic of province. the identity in parties for regional support the strengthened studies. It provides a solid to have the regionalVojvodinian intobrought the spotlightidentity for sometime and italso Sad, media campaigning specificallyand the usesocial of networks. This event is considered measures, described in the introductory part of this research, included billboards in Novi regional identity of development the influencing and Vojvodinians, as themselves declare to alsopeople the invited making reference to theduring European which originsone of theof Vojvodinians.leading regional Their parties in Vojvodina (LSV) is considered to have of autonomy, the 1990 constitutional reform and the 2000 regime change. regime 2000 the and reform constitutional 1990 the autonomy, of According to Leonas Tolvaisis,these are the 1974socialist constitution, the 1989reduction influenced the development of thelargely minority Vojvodina of status rightspolitical in the and people’schanges and support documents legal forseveral autonomy.Additionally, based nationalist parties are the main are parties oppositionwhich are either regional, orcenter-based andcivic-oriented. Conversely,center- to the demands for in Vojvodina autonomy of autonomy supporters main the that showed findings Dragojevic’s autonomy, in the region. importance depends on the context. also thatinhabitants,a relevantthat itissituationalVojvodina’s and its but matterfor Serbian), regionalism still arises in the province. Leonas Tolvaisis, “Hungarian Cultural Autonomy in Vojvodina from the 1974 Socialist Constitution to the to Constitution Socialist 1974 the from Vojvodina in Autonomy Cultural “Hungarian Tolvaisis, Leonas Vojvodina.” in Identity Regional Emerging Ethnicity: “Contesting Dragojevic, Mila In addition to these documents, Iwould alsoadd the 2011 population census in Serbia The reviewedliterature represents good a basis for the research criticaland analysis of As far asthe relationshipthat different political parties have regarding fordemands Vol. 8,No. 2 (2008):pp.290 – 316. 20 37 One may thus infer that regional identity is identity regional that infer Onethus may , Vol.40, No.1 (2012): pp.63 –83. Studies Studies in Ethnicity and 38 CEU eTD Collection diversity diversity and otherelements thataffectregional strength. identity and building focus of research offers significant information about its history, culture, demographics, 21 CEU eTD Collection people, changes in state and provincial borders, various economic changes, urbanization and urbanization changes, economic various borders, provincial and in state changes people, the of migrations frequent wars, ofmultiple aconsequence as changing been constantly have composition is certainly one of them. 3.1. DemographicsOver of Vojvodina the years, its ethniccompetitivenational, to ethnicreligious and identifications. and religiousfor regional identity to become an important type of identificationcomponents of Vojvodinians, theseregional identity Furthermore, made of Vojvodinians. factors it socio-historical possible political conditions andthe population structure, contributedto the emergence of the specific other confessional groups. Hence, cultural and ethnic pluralism, along with the changing several and Protestantism Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Christianity, Orthodox to adheres territories. Asfaras religion is concerned, Vojvodinaa ishome to diverse population that shifts that distinguish the province from the rest of Serbia, but alsofrom the neighboring architecture in the province differs from therest of the country. and contributed to the ever changing composition of the region’s population. Even the territory the to specificities their left which of all Serbian, and Yugoslav Ottoman, Habsburg, 16 historical, cultural, economic and political features. From the historical perspective, since the topic whereseveral questions still remain unanswered. Its specific character lies in its Chapter 3– Vojvodina th century century Vojvodina experienced the rule several of different administrations: Hungarian, Various features of Vojvodina depict its unique character and its demographic its and character unique its depict Vojvodina of features Various theFrom demographic perspective, itis its ethnic diversity and constant population Many reasons exist that qualify Vojvodina asan interesting place forresearch asand a 22 CEU eTD Collection Vojvodina as well as conflicting memories ofthat Theseperiod. are very complex topics mentionedissues are the property restitution theof populations that wereexpelled from the Second World War have not been fully resolved to this very day. To be precise, the ethnic majority in the region, became one after thewars. Jews virtually fromdisappeared Vojvodina and Serbs,whohave never been an absolute Hungariansincreased, partly as a consequence ofthe conversion Germans.of some 15,000 were subsequently inhabited by the Yugoslav population. Second, the percentage of population was largely expelledfromthe whole territory of Yugoslavia, andtheir settlements can be related to the SecondWorld War. Firstly, in the aftermath of the war the German have never been felt than more in the twentieth century. Particularly difficult consequences country. one the of main historical events that distinguish Vojvodina as a specific region in the Austro-Hungarian rule isexact, the percentage Hungarian ofthe increasedpopulation drastically. still of the period The emphasizedTo be in theregion. changes by the demographic in resulted naturally thewhich administration, proponents of the Vojvodinian identity as Austro-Hungarian Compromise ( Italians, French and Spaniards. and French Italians, Germans, Hungarians, Slovaks, Czechs, Ruthenians, Bulgarians, Croats, Armenians, Poles, limited not of, but to, thatconsisted inhabitedby a population the was territory region’s in Vojvodina that we know today. During the colonization periods of 18 etnicke i verske structure Vojvodine]. verske structure i etnicke 39 41 40 industrialization. Sasa Kicosev and Drago Njegovan, Development of the Ethnic and Religious Structure of Vojvodina [Razvoj of Vojvodina Structure Religious and Ethnic of the Development Njegovan, Drago and Kicosev Sasa Ibid. p.23 Ibid. p.16 It is important to highlight that some of the issues that emerged as a consequence of Nevertheless, as significant as the above mentioned developments were, the changes 39 These eventshave eventually in resulted an ethnically diverse population IK Prometej , 2010. p.6 , 2010. IKPrometej 40 eventAn important inthehistory wasof theprovince the Ausgleich ), which transferred Vojvodina to the Hungarian 23 41 th and 19 th century, CEU eTD Collection from the latest census, such as ethnic and religious belonging of the population,information haveDetailed in 2011. one and theother still in2002 one not century, inthecurrent Serbia resembles to some extent the one from the ‘90s. There have been two population censuses in 45.4% 45.4% immigrants. and province) in the (born inhabitants autochthonous 54.6% by waspopulated Vojvodina 44 pp.19-23, 2007. VANU, podredjene i siromasne] Nadezda in Radovic Vojvodina – Dreams and Conflicts [Vojvodina – snovikonflikti], i Subdued and Poor One” 43 here: debates and adoption here: found be can language original in the onRestitution Law of the text The minority. Hungarian of the leaders political the and government Serbian the 42 whoresided in the region since its foundation. while number ofnationala minorities leftVojvodina along with of thesome families Serb which brought largenumbers Serbof refugees from Croatia and Bosnia andHerzegovina, growth of almost all ethnic groups. Change happened during the Yugoslav wars of the ‘90s, [Srpska Vojvodina i njene manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija], istorijsko-politikoloska manjine: i njene Vojvodina [Srpska Vojvodine]. verske structure i etnicke 45 p.86 http://articles.boston.com/2011-09-26/news/30204997_1_restitution-law-serbia-restitution-bill several smaller ethnic groups. that consisted ofalmost even distribution of German, Hungarian and Serb population and changes thedemographicto structure of Vojvodina that existed fornearly two centuries and to some extent influenced the nature of the interethnic relationship of the Vojvodinians. time the neglecting effects of these very important events in Vojvodinian the history have that political and public actors whoemphasize valuesof the cultural diversity while at the same of the Law on Restitution which have in recent times spurredmany anddebates also resulted in year’s lastthe adoption Sasa Kicosev and Drago Njegovan, Development of the Ethnic and Religious Structure of Vojvodina [Razvoj of Vojvodina Structure Religious and Ethnic of the Development Njegovan, Drago and Kicosev Sasa Dragomir Jankov, “Serbia Can Get More from a Rich and Autonomous Vojvodina than it Drains from this between disputes topicof several wasthe it and itself wascontroversial Lawon Restitution of the The passing Sasa Kicosev, quoted in Momcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina and its Minorities: historical-political Study As far as the current situation in Vojvodina isconcerned, the demographic image Furthermore, the two wars disturbed the national balance of the region andbrought 45 [Srbija moze vise da dobije od bogate autonomne Vojvodine nego sto cedi od ove od cedi sto nego Vojvodine autonomne odbogate dobije da vise moze [Srbija http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/serbia-hungary-wwii.d1b 42 . What they also suggest are inconsistencies in the discourse of the What of in suggest areinconsistencies . the they also discourse 43 IK Prometej ,2010. p.26 theAlso, postwar is characterizedperiod a populationby http://www.restitucija.gov.rs/ 24 44 Sasa Kicosev points to the fact that in 1991 Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. and more information about its about information more and , CEU eTD Collection dispersion and insufficient numbers of students, courses of native languages with elements of mother tongue in Vojvodina’s schools and where this is not possible due to population ethnic groups in the region. To be precise, all ethnic communities can be educated in their strengthened. are and relationships bonds interethnic life that cultural exchangemutual cultural of illustratesprograms best thefact thatit isthrough artsand andemphasizes them asthe main characteristics of the province. inthe and dispersion,heterogeneity multilingualism bilingualism of region people and of serious problems between Hence,them. Pavel Domonji cherishesVojvodina’snational story successfulof coexistence of different ethnic groups, or at the very least the inexistence tolerance,but also for discriminationethnic and frictions. the region hadelements to become both a fertile ground for peaceful cooperation and always been an area of migrations, which makes the region quite specific. At the same time, consisted lessconsisted than the 1% of inhabitants.declared (2.78%), Montenegrins (1.75%),Romanians (1.5%),Roma (1.43%) and other minorities that largest minority group was, and still is, Hungarians (14.28%), then Slovaks (2.79%), Croats http://media.popis2011.stat.rs/2012/DBR%2032272%20-%20Population%20Dashboard%20v16.swf stanovnistva, domacinstava stanovai u RepubliciSrbiji 2011 – PRVIPopis REZULTATI] zastatistiku, zavod Republicki – Srbija [Republika RESULTS FIRST – Serbia of Republic in the 46 (1,321,807 persons) and the rest of the population belonged tonational minorities. 2,031,992 inhabitants of Vojvodina nearly two thirds declared themselves as Serbs [Autonomija Vojvodine], Vojvodine]. verske structure i etnicke 49 48 47 Apr 2012 29 on persons) and Serbia (7,120,666 persons). been published, but one does findthe total number of the population of Vojvodina (1,916,889 Republic of Serbia – Republican Bureau of Statistics, 2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings and Households ofPopulation, 2011 Census Statistics, of Bureau Republican – of Serbia Republic Pavel Domonji, “Identity in Practice [Identitet upraksi]” in. Borislav Djurovic (ed.) Autonomy of Vojvodina Ibid. Sasa Kicosev and Drago Njegovan, Development of the Ethnic and Religious Structure of Vojvodina [Razvoj of Vojvodina Structure Religious and Ethnic of the Development Njegovan, Drago and Kicosev Sasa Moreover, educationalis Moreover, for the tool anotherimportant system strengthening of all However, all factors and developments considered, Vojvodina’s history is mostly a Beogradski forum za svet ravnopravnih, 2004 p.67 2004 ravnopravnih, za svet forum Beogradski IK Prometej , 2010. p.8 , 2010. IKPrometej 46 The 2002population census showedthat of out 25 48 Thesedata show that Vojvodina has 49 the thatsays also He accessed 47 The CEU eTD Collection Vojvodinian Identity [VojvodjanskiIdentitet]. 53 p.55 2004. ravnopravnih, 51 50 Identitet], Borislav Djurovic (ed.) Autonomy of Vojvodina [Autonomija Vojvodine], 52 Srbiji], 2006. p.113 u prava zaljudska odbor [Helsinski Serbia in Rights Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske it in communication with friends (21.3%), neighbors (20%), spouse (18.9%) and children results. Those who speak any of the numerous minority languages in Vojvodina, typically use the following produced and is Serbian, language native whose by those used languages tongues in communication with andparents close relatives. mother non-Serbian their use generally generations younger while generations, older within The researchers concluded that nativelanguages which are not Serbian are preserved mostly spouse (47.6%), children (43.8%), friends (42.6%), parents (38.3%) andfamily (36.8%). (47.6%), neighbors (58.6%), colleagues their with communicating while always almost it use Serbian, is not language native whose Vojvodinians that showed results in 2006, conducted dominant use in Vojvodina, spoken by a great majority of the people. In the research that was andCroatian. the official languages in Vojvodina are Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Ruthenian national cultures are organized. primary schools and 67% of high schools. of 79% about for istrue this in theregion, minority the largest are who Hungarians, of in Vojvodina offer school education in the mother tongues of national minorities and in case national minorities on primarythe level.school Conversely, than more thirty municipalities Vojvodina, only two municipalities exist with acomplete education on the languages of Serbia, andthe data can verify this. Namely, on the whole territory excludingof Serbia Marko Skoric, Valentina Sokolovska and Zolt Lazar, Tradition, Language, Identity – [Tradicija, Jezik, – [Tradicija, Identity Language, Tradition, Lazar, Zolt and Sokolovska Valentina Marko Skoric, “Incoherent Ilic, Vladimir Ibid. p.68 Kosta Cavoski, Even though the province is linguistically rich, Serbian remains the language in This research alsoanalyzed how often and inwhich circumstances are minority Filozofski fakultet Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju, 2008. p.34 2008. zasociologiju, Odsek Sad, Novi fakultet Filozofski 52 “ Vojvodina – State of National Minorities [Vojvodina – drzava nacionalnih manjina]” in manjina]” nacionalnih –drzava [Vojvodina Minorities of National –State Vojvodina Foreign Policy [Nekoherentna spoljna politika]” in Pavel Domonji (ed.) Domonji Pavel in politika]” spoljna [Nekoherentna Policy Foreign 50 In this respect Vojvodina is a very advanced region of The Library of the Helsinki Notebook, No. 24 [Biblioteka No. Notebook, Helsinki ofthe Library The 51 that mentioned also itshould In thisrespect, be 26 Beogradski forum svet za forum Beogradski 53 CEU eTD Collection in Pavel Domonji (ed.) Vojvodinian Identity [VojvodjanskiIdentitet]. 55 54 the Republican Bureau of Statistics of Serbia, people who are 15 oryounger compose only that it is not symptomatic only of Vojvodina, but of SerbiaVojvodina is a continualas anda persistentwhole. demographic issue, Namely,one should also point to the fact according to previously mentioned demographic changes. While the decrease in the population size of emigration characterizes the province morethan immigration, which naturally results in the population (age 60 and more) was 21.5% of overall Vojvodinians. (age 20-39) made up 27%, old middle-aged population (age 40-59) comprised 28.8% and old constituted only 22.7% of the province’s population, while young middle-aged population 56 za ljudska pravaodbor u Srbiji], 2006. p.19 [Helsinski Serbia in Rights Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske [Biblioteka 24 No. continues to this day. that this isatrend and 1980’s since growth population a negative had has Vojvodina specific only Vojvodina,to since the whole country is characterized by an old population. ever increasing numbers of older people in comparison youngto ones. This tendency is not is Vojvodina’s main demographic problem because of insufficient population growth and of than rather multiculturation. theassimilation minorities, in everyday life because the data theof abovementioned research show atendency of the law and Constitution, and one such example is encouraging the use of minority languages Still, improvements should made be in the actual implementation of the rights guaranteed by ethnicgroups, Vojvodina can be seen as asuccessful multiethnic living model of in Serbia. (18.3%). Sasa Kicosev Ibid. p.33 Ibid. p.21 One other important feature of Vojvodina’s demography is its age structure. In fact, it 54 respectInterms for of minority languagerights, rights andother different of , “Demographic Aspect of Vojvodinian Identity [Demografski aspekt vojvodjanskog identiteta]” vojvodjanskog aspekt [Demografski Identity Vojvodinian of Aspect “Demographic 55 Datashow that in 2002 young people (age0-19) in Vojvodina 27 The Library of the Helsinki Notebook, Helsinki of the The Library 56 years, recent In CEU eTD Collection prognoze na globalnom nivou], 57 manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija], 58 a+globalnom+nivou.html http://www.pressonline.rs/sr/vesti/vesti_dana/story/213450/Srbija+stari,+zabrinjavaju%C4%87e+i+prognoze+n 59 of balanced division and not aspower a territory division administrativeof units,into could Consequently regionalization, here understood as a (vertically and horizontally) carefully and along with the longdifficulties so far.Namely, democratic Serbia’s transition hasnot been an easy perioddevelopment of economicsuccessfully in performed Vojvodina, crisis,one cannot claimthat it hasbeen a process without it aggravatedassociated with the idea of the ‘Europe theof theregions’. While regionalizationconsolidation has been process. donations from the EU. strategic reasons, regionalization is inperformed toorder facilitate the allocation fundsof and divided into seven regions, one of whichthe Assembly of Vojvodina in 2010. is Vojvodina. Academy of Artsand Sciences and the Council of NationalIn Minorities that was withinformed addition to otherbank or currency, it doeshave arecently regionalopened office in Brussels, Vojvodinian statistical legal the documentand of province. While Vojvodina not does have its military, central police, by the constitution of the Republiccooperation. Vojvodina has its governmentown assembly,and whose functions are regulated of Serbia and statute of multiethnicVojvodina, character is supported by the promotion of minority rights andinterethnic which is the highest 3.2. Political Status of Vojvodina andRegionalization isyears 17%. 15% of the overallpopulation Serbia, of while thepercentage of populationthe older than 65 “Serbia is Ageing, Prognosis Equallyis Worrisome on the Global Level [Srbija stari, zabrinjavajuce i Momcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina and its Minorities: historical-political Study [Srpska Vojvodina i njene i Vojvodina [Srpska Study historical-political Minorities: its and Vojvodina Serbian Subotic, Momcilo Ibid p.106 According to the Plan for regionalization of Serbia, by 2020 the country should be The current political status of Vojvodina defines it as an autonomous province, whose 57 59 Tanjug/Press Online Also,modern regions are aEuropean tendency that is closely Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. p.102 2011. Beograd, studije politicke za Institut 58 , 07 Apr 2012, accessed on 19 May 2012 28 CEU eTD Collection 63 62 Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju,2007. p.65 integracijama evropskim 60 manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija], this topic shall bethe focus of the next chapter theof thesis. levels of Vojvodina’s autonomy to be unsatisfiedwith the region’s current political status and population of Serbia. GDP,althoughas of as much contributes of only theit constitutes 35% overall a quarter it that and well doing been has Vojvodina thateconomically show data latest the However, history repeatedly hindered, which fairly also aggravated the regionalization process. restore. In relation to these developments, the economic growth of the region was throughout existence the andsome of rights that wererevokedthe from province have slowbeen to In addition, the political Vojvodina status of changed several times during the course of its different standpoints areinvolved inthe regionalization as is process, the case inVojvodina. This task is not always effortlessly done andcomplications may arise when many parties with restructuring of the state andsociety andabout optimal division of power and responsibilities. society, also that one but multicultural isonagood toaccomplish multiculturation.path order to promote the cultural richness of the province so one could infer that it is not only a 61 of them strive toachieve multiculturation. there many societies are multicultural (inthe thatmany sense exist in cultures all not them), inrelationship the transition. context Milan of Tripkovic et al. point tothe fact thatalthough pluralism. Namely, regionalism multiculturalismand are often seen in mutuala close course make possible the European future of Vojvodina and Serbia as a whole. either. process easy an been have not Momcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina and its Minorities: historical-political Study [Srpska Vojvodina i njene i Vojvodina [Srpska Study historical-political Minorities: its and Vojvodina Serbian Subotic, Momcilo Ibid. p.62 Milan Tripkovic (ed.),MulticulturalVojvodina in European Integrations [Multikulturna Vojvodina u Milan Tripkovic, Ljubinko Pusic and Srdjan Sljukic Crossroads of Serbia [Raskrsca Srbije], [Raskrsca of Serbia Crossroads Sljukic Srdjan and Pusic Ljubinko Tripkovic, Milan As it was previously emphasized, regionalization is about the spatial and functional Vojvodina is a specific case of regionalization also due to its pronounced cultural ], Filozofski fakultet Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju, 2006. p.17 2006. sociologiju, za Odsek Sad, Novi fakultet Filozofski ], 63 Thisis precisely thethe reason for extremeproponents increased of Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. p.68 60 Nevertheless,that willindue isnecessary step a it 61 In Vojvodina many efforts have been made in made been have efforts many Vojvodina In 29 Filozofski fakultet Filozofski 62 CEU eTD Collection 65 nationalism and chauvinism due to its unique system of values. of system unique to its due chauvinism and nationalism culture, regional identity is ofteninterpreted asa “dam” toseparatism,irredentism, its about regional identity. merging the geographic criteria and socio-psychological attitudes of the region’s population regionalni identitet]”, regionalni 64 regional regional identity. belonging to this particular territory, or in other wordsindividual andthey group residing in area certain theterritory are the founderssource of consciousness about of the feeling of of this geographic entity also constitute the region. According to Sabic and Pavlovic, every identity eachof individual or agroupthat inhabit the region considerand themselves a part as people from the region. ratherexamine regional to if Vojvodinian identity exists today importanthow and itis the for identities. The purposecircumstances, it is not impossible to imagine that Vojvodinians would have many differentof this thesis andcultural ethnic are pluralism taken into consideration with along historical the is not to establishpeaceful ethnic existence will remain, which really is the casein Vojvodina. Moreover, if a hierarchy provide certainof assurance that ethnic frictions would not be common andthese that at the very least identities, than a inhabitedmigrations by 25 different ethnicgroups, commonmore identity does but identification is quite relevantfor the Vojvodinian case study. Namely,in an area of fact that it provides3.3. Vojvodinian Regional Identity Today people with a form of a common non-national and non-ethnic Ibid. p.152 Dejan Sabic and Mila Pavlovic, “Regional Consciousness and the Regional Identity [Regionalna svest i svest [Regionalna Identity Regional the and Consciousness “Regional Pavlovic, Mila and Sabic Dejan Also,as a determinant identificationcultural of in literature sociology the of and Aside from the physical, social and geographic integral elements of every region, the Many important features ofregional identity have been forwardput far,so andthe 64 Zbornik naucnih radova, vol.LV, 2007 Hence, they conclude, individuality of a geographic region is affirmed by 30 . pp.151-158 . 65 Interestingly, among some among Interestingly, CEU eTD Collection [Srpska Vojvodina i njene manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija] istorijsko-politikoloska manjine: i njene Vojvodina [Srpska 66 Sasa Kicosev, quoted inMomcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina and its Minorities: historical-political Study p.86 think that one can plausibly speak of existence of a Vojvodinian identity today. migrations. One such scholar is a well-known demographer, Sasa Kicosev, who does not unitsterritorial in have the past, or notbeen any relating to all, to territory at due recurrent is implying such thatof aregion inhabitants some have relating already been to other consist of citizens arewho aware theirof regional belonging. What these authors are throughout history been largely dependent on migrations, and as such the province does not has itspopulation of the growth since Vojvodina, in identity regional about talk to impossible sorted into two groups. To exact,be one group of authors believes that itis virtually be both anintegrativedisintegrative and element. identity can, thus, be considered tohave a dual role from this perspective, due toits ability to represents a point distinction of rather than a common point reference. of Vojvodinian rest Serbia.of In such a context regional identity is usedas quite a political tool that allthe commonalities of ethnicthat groups live in Vojvodina, inopposition sometimes tothe strong example,it is inin particularly political istodiscourse, the it pointwhich used often to the prominence of regionalEuropeanization identity largely of society dependsethnic groupslivingin the identityBalkans regional arises as areactionthe to or on otherthe contextsimilar indevelopments. which it appears. In Vojvodina, For on the other hand, disagreements and conflicts, eventually occasional the which a disrupted building of common differing national identifications based on language, culture, ethnicity and religion led to their history, throughout cohabited have Vojvodina of groups national and ethnic different the possibility for the existence ofa unique Vojvodinianidentity. To be exact, although the negate them, to according which, factors disintegration more couple a mention Popov Jelena Literature on the Vojvodinian regional identity is diverse, butit can essentially be Additionally, in their historical review of the Vojvodinian autonomy Cedomir and Cedomir autonomy Vojvodinian the of review historical their in Additionally, 31 , Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. 66 CEU eTD Collection 67 Srpsko pitanje], Srpsko Srbiji], 2006. p.9 u prava zaljudska odbor [Helsinski Serbia in Rights Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske Vojvodinian Identity (ed.) [VojvodjanskiDomonji Identitet]. Pavel in duha]” stanje je [Vojvodjanin ofMind a State is “Vojvodinian Kostres, Bojan 68 identity because ofits integrative potential widensthat the space ethnicfor tolerance and European standards.Europe, and assist the whole country in becoming modern according theto contemporary this perspective, encouraging Vojvodinian identity can Sonjabring as Serbia a whole closerto Biserko adds that it is important to cherish the Vojvodinian regardless of their origin and of the momentof all values. when they came to acceptlive diversityin Vojvodina. and live who Vojvodina, live in who as people but with anation, as not Vojvodinians Hedefines mind. it, considering this featureVojvodina, of their Bojan environment Kostres, goes asone the step multiculturalism.highest further, stating that being Vojvodinianbased itson historical heritage, sharedvalues of its inhabitants, ethnic tolerance and is a state of Thevein. Namely, theformer other group of authors firmlysimilar ina hypothesis mentioned previously the asserts to counterarguments their who presidentbase authors the existence of Vojvodinian identity ofNevertheless, the assembly there are negate existencethe always ofits regional identity thefind arguments for their assertions. two sidesof tothe one coin,Autonomous meaning that there isirreversible effect on the regional identity building. also Province a group of had untilthe of lasted which integration legal administrative,territorial region, 1945, of and of agrarian community resistant tocentralizing forces, the authors maintain that along absence Vojvodinian regional feeling. Cedomir Popov and Jelena Popov, The Autonomy of Vojvodina – Serbian Question [Autonomija Vojvodine – Vojvodine [Autonomija Question –Serbian of Vojvodina Autonomy The Popov, Jelena and Popov Cedomir Moreover, Vojvodinians are people who can adhere to any religion or nation, or any to religion can adhere who people are Vojvodinians Moreover, It is in historical, economic and social specificities of Vojvodina that the authors who Krovovi, 2000. p.10 67 Moreover, even though Vojvodina had a long tradition as long tradition a had Vojvodina though even Moreover, The Library of the Helsinki Notebook, No. 24 [Biblioteka No. Notebook, Helsinki the of Library The 32 68 From CEU eTD Collection Domonji (ed.) Vojvodinian Identity [Vojvodjanski Identitet]. [Vojvodjanski Identity Vojvodinian (ed.) Domonji Pavel in Buducnosti] Evropske [Anticipacija Future of a European “The Anticipation Biserko, Sonja 69 Work Material wealth Justice God Freedom Peace Love Identitet], 71 i globalni identitet Vojvodjana]”, Filozofski Fakultet Novi Sad, 70 ljudska prava u Srbiji], 2006. pp.11-12za odbor [Helsinski Serbia in Rights Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske [Biblioteka VALUES The results were the following: asked the Vojvodiniansstate to which values carry the mostsignificance them. for shared by thevalues peopleuniversal the through defined be also can from identity theVojvodinian identification, province. based In a survey from the fallregional identity is values. common Namely, claim they ofthat aside from being a territorially 2006, Zolt Lazar et al. attributes. One the of main characteristics emphasizedby the proponents Vojvodinian of formed, gradually gaining all the qualities of a specific, regional identity with discernible long history, aspecific framework for coexistence of different peoples and cultures was obtained saliency especially since the second half of the 18 identity. based territorially a of wing the under identity because it allows foreach citizen of the province to nurture his orher particular ethnic Marko Skoric, Valentina Sokolovska and Zolt Lazar, Tradition, Language, Identity – [Tradicija, Jezik, – [Tradicija, Identity Language, Tradition, Lazar, Zolt and Sokolovska Valentina Marko Skoric, lokalni [Regionalni, Vojvodinians of Identity Global and Local “Regional, Marinkovic, Dusan and Lazar Zolt According to Zolt Lazar and Dusan Marinkovic, Vojvodinian regional identity Filozofski fakultet Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju, 2008. p.111 2008. zasociologiju, Odsek Sad, Novi fakultet Filozofski 2.8 8.3 8.9 10.3 14.7 23.1 31.9 PERCENTAGE (%) 71 33 The Library of the Helsinki Notebook, No. 24 Sociologija, Vol.XLV, No. 2, 69 th century. 70 Namely, throughout a 2003. p.156 CEU eTD Collection fakultet Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju, 2007. p.70 Minorities): “The hypothesis that all of us are Vojvodinians is sustainable only if that does 73 72 Boz realities of differentdoes not exist, it should mentionedbe that opinions tend to correspond to the political ethnic groups. One suchexpressed through organizationthe of the state. example is the multiculturalism and that nearly realizes2/3 that this followingfeature ofthe provinceshould be statementet al. which showed that 65.5% of Vojvodinians accept and acknowledges the reality of of Antal multicultural view of the region. They also correspond to the 2002 survey of Milan Tripkovic population. while 4.6% adhere to the nationalist and peoples groups ethnic different of a it as province consider Vojvodinians of model, 22% Almost stating that Vojvodina is a regionon its territory (37%)of or a provincethe of the Serbian populationSerbian andnational minorities (35.8%). Furthermore, most Vojvodinians perceive the region as a home to all the people who reside (Serbia,the Balkans andEurope respectively) carry attachment a of less significant degree. village) that they fromandcome that Vojvodina second. comes Largerterritorial units showed that most Vojvodinians identify ‘rest’,themselves who do not live in Vojvodina. primarilyclaim with could thealso placebe seen as(town, simplygeneral andcould be emphasized ascommon for many a different populations.wish Hence, suchcity a to distinguishor this particularvalues’.Also, the values that have been pointed outin the research are quite universal in population from the which would make it possible to evaluate the veracity of the claim of ‘universal Vojvodinian Ibid. Milan Tripkovic, Ljubinko Pusic and Srdjan Sljukic Crossroads of Serbia [Raskrsca Srbije], [Raskrsca Serbia of Crossroads Sljukic Srdjan and Pusic Ljubinko Tripkovic, Milan ó ki, the president of ‘Argus’ (Civil Society of Hungarians in Vojvodina for the Rights of While it is evident thatuniversal viewthe topic on of regional identity in Vojvodina As farasthe theterritorial is samesurvey belonging of Vojvodinians concerned, Admittedly,it is hard to findcomparable data to other regions of Serbia in this context 72 Hence, these findings show that Vojvodinians are largely people who opt for a for opt who people largely are Vojvodinians that show findings these Hence, 34 73 Filozofski CEU eTD Collection [Srpska Vojvodina i njene manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija istorijsko-politikoloska manjine: i njene Vojvodina [Srpska 74 its specific featuresare attimes exaggerated by its supporters and minimized by its identity. regional the exist, Although emergenceidentity for preconditions ofVojvodinian do topic of heated debates. As was shown in the previous paragraphs, such is also the case with positive aspects of its further strengthening and dispersion. It is alsoharshly criticizedby the advocates of Vojvodinian identity whoemphasize the many ofthe country. thedecentralization for unwillingness conveys radical quite the and essentially manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija], Srbiji], 2006. p.11 u prava zaljudska odbor [Helsinski Serbia in Rights Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske Identitet [Vojvodjanski Identity Vojvodinian (ed.) 76 75 zajednicama.” nacionalnim pripadaju koja prava kolektivnog i individualnog ni kao kulture, svoje pripadnosti, i etnicke nacionalne od odricanje neznaci akoto samo je odrziva mi Vojvodjani svi smo da “Teza language: original in quotation The p.76 Hungarians, Croats, Slovaks orany other national minority in the province. with the case thatthis will notbe but one, the regional theirwith ethnic identity substitute point of view. Subotic also asserts thatoriginate inthe a framework of centralizedonlystate organization andrepresent arather biased Serbs will accept such an identity,with anda clear possibly purpose creation to artificial extend an as it of thinks theand politicalidentity regional Vojvodinian authority for support the ofcriticizes the province. Such comments mostly province. the withthe inof identification people therightsthatbelong or ethnicto groups different identity is in certain contexts accepted only given itthat doesnot interfere with other forms of regional that indicate does it but Vojvodina, of population majority the or minorities all individual individual andcollective rights.” not mean denying to national minorities their national and ethnic belonging, their cultures or Antal Bozoki,quoted in Momcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina and its Minorities: historical-political Study Sonja Biserko, “The Anticipation of a European Future [Anticipacija Evropske Buducnosti] in Pavel Domonji Momcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina and its Minorities: historical-political Study [Srpska Vojvodina i njene Vojvodina [Srpska Study historical-political Minorities: its and Vojvodina Serbian Subotic, Momcilo The useof different social can identifications for politicalpurposes andbe often isthe One also comes across opinions of scholars such as MomciloSubotic, who openly 74 Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. p.70 This taken is tobe not as statement collective viewof the ]. The Library of the Helsinki Notebook, No. 24 [Biblioteka 24 No. Notebook, Helsinki the of Library The ]. 35 ], Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. 76 75 Such a view is CEU eTD Collection 77 the creation of Vojvodinian identity. Vojvodinian of creation the be analyzedis how of big a role political leaders, NGOs and other important actors have in that indicatedalready conditions such exist did been in Vojvodina,what but remains to still its for not exist. and construction cultural whereIt hashistorical do preconditions social, forms of socialto other similar is it respect this in that andmeans basically built groupbeing also is identity regional identities. However, whatmost detailed it analysesdoes in notthe identity mean studies is concern that its origin it andcan formation. emerge So to say that 3.4. Influential Actors inthe Regional Identity Building ethnic andnational groups and as such can only benefit from a common identity. throughout history and recurring migrations has become home to a multitude of different especially valuable for Vojvodina, which due to the ruleseveral of differentempires peaceful coexistence andeconomic prosperity. Such a framework of regional identity is murky, thus hindering the image of regional identity as a framework that allows for tolerance, motives itsbehind continual reproduction in mediathe and political discourse are attimes belonging not should be seen asadanger tootherforms socialof identities,thefact is that the biblioteka Zarko Zrenjanin, 1997. p.56 1997. Zrenjanin, Zarko biblioteka identity. ethnic their on insisting homogeneity cultural specificities, although different groups in the province have kept some level of perceive their regional identity as ageneral framework for preservation manifestationand of region. inthe circumstances historical and conditions living similar of consequence andreligious pluralism and relatively sharedsystem of values, which are largely the opponents. These features refer to the multiethnic composition,historical traditions, cultural Vladimir Ilic and Slobodan Cvejic, Nationalism in Vojvodina [Nacionalizam Vojvodini]. u [Nacionalizam Vojvodina in Nationalism Cvejic, Slobodan and Ilic Vladimir That identity is being “built” is not an unprecedented remark. In fact, probably the Ideally, Vojvodinians of different religious, ethnic and national belonging should 36 77 While it is true that feeling of regional Gradska CEU eTD Collection http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Funkcioner-LSV-platio-bilborde-Ja-sam-Vojvodjanin_ka.lt.html imaju pravo da se izjasne kao Vojvodjani. Važno je da znaš: Nacionalna pripadnost je stvar tvog ose tvog stvar je pripadnost Nacionalna znaš: da je Važno Vojvodjani. kao izjasne se da pravo imaju Vojvodinian’ [Funkcioner LSV platio bilborde ‘Ja sam Vojvodjanin’]”, sam ‘Ja bilborde platio LSV [Funkcioner Vojvodinian’ 78 stanovništva gradjani i gradjanke odgovara gradjanke i gradjani stanovništva Na predstoje jesi! to što budeš pravo da "Imaš language:” original the in The quotation 79 accessed on 5May 2012 were most revolted by the idea of a separate, national identity of Vojvodinians. Probably the central Serbia, causing outrage andindignation center-basedof the nationalist parties who nationalof identity,giving a wholenew meaning and different to regional identity. did not exactly target these aspects. Actually,Vojvodinian identity was put forward as a form valuable tothe populations of the region by anditself encouraged,should be this campaign sentiment!” as Vojvodinians. It is important that you know: national belonging is a matter ofyour national belonging. Many of them do not know that they have the right to declare themselves On the populationforthcoming census citizens will also answer the question about their sending. with the campaign,although it did nothave anything against the message that it was connections have any to negated which (LSV), Vojvodina of Democrats Social of League Vojvodinian political parties that seek to achieve these goals. One such example is the several by refuted wasnot wassending campaign the that identity regional of strengthening itsconfirmed rolein this campaign,the ofdecentralization message the of state and NGO still continuesthe and networks via social tomanaged wasmainly campaign The be Vojvodinians. young mostly very active in this domain. creator theof campaign isanNGO,the League Social of Equality, memberswhose are Although no political mentioned, As was previously in Serbia. census population the during appeared that I am” party officially Miroljub Mijuskovic, “Official of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Paid for the Billboards ‘I ‘I am Billboards for the Paid of Vojvodina Democrats ofSocial League the of “Official Mijuskovic, Miroljub Consequently, this provoked many debates and clashes of opinions predominantly in The message of the billboards was as follows: “You have the right to be who you are! In this respect I will now look into the 2011 campaign “I am Vojvodinian – I am what 78 79 Although regional identity as territorial and non-national identification is quite is identification non-national and territorial as identity regional Although ü e i na pitanje o svojoj nacionalnoj opredeljenosti. Mnogi ne znaju da ne znaju Mnogi opredeljenosti. nacionalnoj osvojoj pitanje na e i 37 Politika Online , 22 Oct 2011 ü em em Popisu ü anja!" CEU eTD Collection http://www.021.rs/Novi-Sad/Vesti/Da-li-ste-Vojvodanin-ka.html Inicijative 80 82 accessed on 6May 2012 81 average, relationshipwith local governments are given the highestgrades. towards whileNGOs.attitude Also, most themof considerthe with cooperation the state as towards the civil is society eithercharacterized as lack interestof somewhat or positive in Vojvodina (37%). society showedthat approximately 15,600 NGOs existin Serbia, most ofwhich are registered NGO ‘Civic Initiatives’ aboutin the Vojvodinianthe identity building is currentconsiderable. A research conductedin 2011 by the situation in the sector for the organization this take certainly not party would willingly.of civil Regional identity is closely toconnected decentralization divisionand of power,steps that a surpriseif traditionally into taken its political consideration. orientation centralist is negative reaction of the nationalist party to the idea ofVojvodinian identity not does come as as it would by the previously mentioned part of the majority population. The extremely much as groups, minority by the much so welcomed not be would identity Vojvodinian that a newperspective. them offer could belonging national be effective among the Serbswhoare not nationally firmly becausedecided this new of form belonging as a tool for the manipulation of citizens andparty, Miloradadded Mircic, publicly thatcriticized the authors it of thiswill campaign of usingmost regional probably only declaredthemselves as Montenegrins in nationala sense. Thevice-president of this political Montenegro where the which saw numberthe campaign as an attempt to create a new nation following the ofmodel of the majority most explicit in their resentment was the farright nationalist party, Serbian Radical Party, population decreased in favor of those who Dejan Stojicic, “Are You Vojvodinian? [Da li ste Vojvodjanin/ka?]” ste li [Da You Vojvodinian? “Are Stojicic, Dejan Ibid. uSrbiji]”, o NVO istrazivanja velikog [Rezultati Serbia in of NGOs of Research aBig “Results A complete opposite to this point of view comes from the different NGOs, whose role , 1 Nov 2011 http://www.gradjanske.org/page/news/sr.html?view=story&id=4228§ionId=1 81 state the of that the relationship showed thissurvey Resultsalso of 38 accessed on 5May 2012 80 This stream of thought alsoconveys Radio 021 , 3 Oct, 2011 82 It is in clearthat Gradjanske CEU eTD Collection [Uloga nevladinih organizacija u procesima regionalne saradnje]” regionalne procesima u organizacija nevladinih [Uloga 84 2003. Vojvodina”, in Organizations 83 Biblioteka Helsinske sveske No. 27, Helsinski odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji, , 2008. pp.25-26 2008. , u Srbiji, prava za ljudska odbor Helsinski 27, No. sveske Helsinske Biblioteka Identity of Vojvofdina: The Challenges of 2007-08 [Multietnicki identitet Vojvodine: izazovi u2007-08.] discourse would not be very fertile. In this context Devic has shown with her study the of study her with shown has Devic context In this fertile. bevery not would discourse receptive audience for the Vojvodinian identity discourse did not exist in the province, the especially if this process is viewedthrough its discursive elements.Tobeprecise,a if also points to the possible positive consequences of such activities. positively affect the society,of active engagement ofNGOs in organizing conferences, disseminatingin ideasthe will that mediating discourse withis one ofthe leading Vojvodinianthe NGO members.Nonetheless, itdoes depict the importance governments and media, viewand Popov’s point of in subjective, isundoubtedly especially having mind thathe somewhat it first to begin the cleaning of the terrain, facilitating the subsequent work of politicians.” of work subsequent the facilitating terrain, the of cleaning the begin to first contaminatedterrain needswhich tobecleansedand nongovernmental organizations are the is a behind left is What journalists. and generals politicians, of leftovers the clean they for Regionalism,“Nongovernmental organizations are, in away, minefield cleaners because that it has the potential to grow. In the words of Aleksandar Popov, the director of the Center interaction iswith governments the notalways successful, that itis exist important itdoes and influence both the governments andthe people. Although we have previously seen that the goalsdesired ofmulticulturalism and interethnic collaboration. cooperation with the authorities a comprehensive only Devic, Ana by concluded As governments. local and central the can yield relevant resultsprotect its valuesin and identity the more effort should be made field,to improve relationships with both or in other wordsorder tomaintain a productive the societycivil sector and thus a ‘healthy’ society that aspires to Aleksandar Popov “The Role of the Nongovernmental Organizations in the Process of Regional Cooperation of Regional Process the in Organizations Nongovernmental ofthe Role “The Popov Aleksandar Ana Devic “Guarding and Guiding Regionalism and Interculturalism: Civil Society and Non-Governmental http://www.watsoninstitute.org/muabet/other_products.html Residents of Vojvodina are important actors in the regional identity building as well, In addition, NGOs theimpact because they of is multifaceted, have theability to Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Muabet project 39 p.17 in Pavel Domonji The (ed.) Multiethnic 83 84 Mr. , CEU eTD Collection 2003. Vojvodina”, in Organizations 86 Haven’”, ‘Multiethnic www. 87 85 newspapers on the topics ofVojvodinian regional identity autonomy.and What it mean, does groups. The situation is the samein case of commentsthe readers’ to thearticles in the online followed on different websites are mostly intenseand often divide people into two opposing opinion on regional identity exists among the people. On the contrary, debates that can be Vojvodinians consider this topic important. This by all means does not indicate that universal in themselves play its role of strengthening andthatamultitude anda significant diffusion networks and similar mediums of information exchange identity. regional strengthening and maintaining depend solely on that. The people in the province have an equally important role in nota ofthe the sendpositive region image ofVojvodina, multiculturalism does population to Forum Krstarica Forum Forum of Serbian Nationalists vojvodina-vreme-je/page__st__1500 http://www.vojvodinacafe.rs/forum/ province. the Vojvodinians and asa result causing infringements tothe the multuculturalist tradition of which are accountableVojvodina in opponents their and Serbia in central parties for the nationalist of the committees mismanaging the multiethnicdoes not consider the Vojvodinian population responsible for such a development.and It is rather regional identityethnic groups in Vojvodina have not been uncommon in aspirationsthe previous decades, though she of exists. dedication a to multi or inter-ethnic ethos on the part of Vojvodina’s residents undeniably regionalist politics and multiethnicity in Vojvodina that a strong regional identity and Examples of such websites and other mediums of communication are: Slobodna Vojvodina Devic Ana Ana Devic “Guarding and Guiding Regionalism and Interculturalism: Civil Society Non-Governmental and Society Civil Interculturalism: and Regionalism Guiding and Devic “Guarding Ana slobodnavojvodina http://www.watsoninstitute.org/muabet/other_products.html 85 Moreover,prominence ofthe identity regional talks in socialdifferent forums, She also acknowledges factthe thatstereotyping and prejudice among differentthe 86 However, whileit is true that the frictions between different political actors do not “ Nationalism, Regional Multiculturalism and Democracy in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia’s of Vojvodina, Province the in andDemocracy Multiculturalism Regional Nationalism, http://forum.krstarica.com/forumdisplay.php/325-Vojvodina Center for European Integration, SEE 2, 2002 .org Autonomija Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Muabet project http://forum.srpskinacionalisti.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12458&p=184502 B92 Vojvodina forum Vojvodina B92 Forum Aladin www. autonomija http://forum.aladin.info/topic/3356-slobodna-vojvodina/ 40 http://forum.b92.net/topic/68756-nezavisna- .info p.3 VojvodinaCafe 87 . p.65 does assert the fact that the people the that fact the assert does , CEU eTD Collection assume that this process asis much a process “from asbelow” it is “top-down”. participate inopinion, the process such as NGOsofNamely, although the political elites play a significant in role its creation, otherleaders of theand Vojvodinianthe media, identity alongbuilding is a more complex process than the constructivist approachidentity suggests.with the peoples building. of the region, Hence,implies that such an identity truly can in a sense withcompete other social alsoidentifications. it activelyis not wrongconsiderable number of people in Vojvodina thehave feeling of regional attachment, which to however, is that a receptive audience for the regional identity existsdiscourse and that a One conclusion that can be drawn from the previous paragraphs is that regional 41 CEU eTD Collection Srpsko pitanje], Srpsko 88 judicial,health, educational culture mattersand and in the matters of national equality. financial, economic, the in jurisdiction broad as well as powers legal and administrative thatVojvodina established asan provinceautonomous with its and ownStatute certain constitutions. Precisely, it was the 1946 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia development and change in the political status of Vojvodina and these include mainly this particularSeveral topic. legal documents can be distinguishedas crucial in the contentionto history disagreementsis imbued ofpolitical with leaders related and frequent 4.1.The Short History of Vojvodina’s Autonomy exist insubjectsthe state’s related to sovereignty and division of power. views onthe will topic pointing be presented, tothefactno neutral virtually thatopinions defined the transformations of Vojvodina in the legal and political sense. Moreover, opposing the changes inthe political status of the province and cite the important legal thatdocuments regional identity discourse is the levelVojvodinian identity. of What has oftenthe times been a topic province’s of heated debates surrounding the autonomy. This chapter elements,core is it take alsoimportant to into consideration the implicationspolitical of will discuss Autonomy Vojvodina’s Implications: - Political 4 Chapter constitutive republics ofYugoslavia and to become a permanent element the of Yugoslav Specifically, the autonomousamendments made to the Constitution in 1967 and a year after certainly did do so. provincesthe and 1966, in in Croatia at Brioni session plenary the but Vojvodina, in situation in Serbia aspired to gain the same treatment as the Cedomir Popov and Jelena Popov, The Autonomy of Vojvodina – Serbian Question [Autonomija Vojvodine – Vojvodine [Autonomija Question –Serbian of Vojvodina Autonomy The Popov, Jelena and Popov Cedomir The topic of autonomy is surely not a new one for Vojvodina. In fact, its recent While the cultural andsociological aspects of regional identity certainly represent its Furthermore, the Constitution from 1963 did not substantially change the political the change substantially not did 1963 from the Constitution Furthermore, Krovovi, 2000. p.96 42 88 CEU eTD Collection these were1990 while obscurethe country was under the leadership times of Slobodan resources. Milosevic.for As is wellthe known, this period, implyingautonomous that it is best for the province to independently manage its own Furthermore, it is emphasized that Vojvodina achieved the highest economic growth during provinces theregion. of governance of model and acceptable agood suggesting to when refer because of high supporters in levels of Vojvodina thisautonomy thatthey Constitution isthe mostly most of their rights Vojvodine], [Autonomija Vojvodina of Autonomy (ed.) Djurovic Borislav in Vojvodine] o autonomiji Vojvodini u Srbije partije socijalisticke organizacije pokrajinske konferencije [Platforma of Vojvodina Autonomy the 89 jurisdiction over the provincesof being autonomous provinces Serbia.of In addition, thestate leadership Serbiaonly of had in matters of national under this Constitution these administrativedefense subjects units became of the Federation,instead and finances. very which got statussimilar tothe rightsandTo precise, political constitutivebe republics. Srpsko pitanje], Srpsko 91 p.131 forbade any changes to the ConstitutionJanuary without 1974 the consentand ofthe the autonomousConstitution provinces of Vojvodina only a month later. The main provisions Srbije, SR [Ustav Constitution the of Enforcement forthe Laws Constitutional with of Kosovo Province Autonomous 90 status, character and position of the province. Vojvodina’s autonomy is the 1974 Constitution, which brought substantial changes in the after a couple years.of thestate, but final was actually outcome that thegranted provinceswerethe status requested expected, this motion did not find support among those who opted for amore centralized federalism,instead their of statusas administrative units in the Republic of Serbia. As Platform of the Conference of the Provincial Organization of the Socialist Party of Serbia in Vojvodina about inVojvodina Serbia of Party Socialist of the Organization Provincial of the Conference the of Platform Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Serbia, Socialist Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and Socialist Cedomir Popov and Jelena Popov, The Autonomy of Vojvodina – Serbian Question [Autonomija Vojvodine – Vojvodine [Autonomija Question –Serbian of Vojvodina Autonomy The Popov, Jelena and Popov Cedomir http://eng.digital.nb.rs/document/RA-ustav-1974 SAP Vojvodine, SAP Kosovo sa ustavnim zakonima za sprovodjenje ustava], zasprovodjenje zakonima ustavnim sa Kosovo SAP Vojvodine, SAP However, the situation changed dramatically in However, thesituation nextConstitution with dramatically changed published Unquestionably the most liberal and celebrated most among the supporters of Beogradski forum za svet ravnopravnih, 2004. p.99 2004. ravnopravnih, svet za forum Beogradski Krovovi, 2000. p.105 43 89 The federal Constitution was published in published was Constitution Thefederal Sluzbeni list SFRJ, list Sluzbeni 91 Formany 1974, 90 , CEU eTD Collection 92 coexist in a common state.Hence, Serbia would becomeasort federationof with two to Serbia, itwould arepublic equal with thatVojvodina becomes status political whom of the context of the Republicin and strengthened maintained be should autonomy province’s ofthe that believe today identity Serbia, for some this is not sufficient. Therefore they require sides. on both exist admittedly varies,though to consider thisextremes developed be groups different relationship thiswhichimplications. However,itsof political identity possible to degree theand the two ideaVojvodinian of identity see the connection between accepting the reality theof existence identity is quite straightforward indeed.Namely, both the supporters andthe opposition to the relatedto the question of regional identity. The relationship between autonomy and regional 4.2.The TwoSides of Autonomy evident. the done, is progress but remainsmuch tobe still culturally politically.Admittedly, and implement regionalization for in order the countrywhole thrive to economically, socially, era, since theyear 2000, in order to redeem the injustices done to Vojvodina and to fakultet Novi Sad, Odsek za sociologiju, 2007. p.62 greatly. resolvedsince this unfortunate period during itswhich economic development also suffered authors, as such Some MilanTripkovic, been thatVojvodina’s believe hasnot fully status province’s jurisdictions were crudely andthe restricted state became extremely centralized. 93 established yearssome 15 were before revoked andtheir autonomy was cut back. Louis Sell, Slobodan Milosevic and the Destruction ofYugoslavia Destruction the and Milosevic Slobodan Sell, Louis Milan Tripkovic, Ljubinko Pusic and Srdjan Sljukic Crossroads of Serbia [Raskrsca Srbije], [Raskrsca of Serbia Crossroads Sljukic Srdjan and Pusic Ljubinko Tripkovic, Milan While the majority of opinion leaders among the supporters of the Vojvodinian Vojvodina’s autonomy is surely one of the most debated topics that are in any way 93 However, it emphasized should be that many steps weretaken inthe post-Milosevic 44 . Duke. University Press, 2002.p.54 Filozofski 92 The CEU eTD Collection Srbiju], Republiku uSaveznu Srbije i Vojvodine ujedinjenja demokratskog o osnovama [Deklaracija Serbia of Republic 95 klub]. [Vojvodjanski club Vojvodinian the and lica] prognana i za izbegla centar [Regionalni Persons Displaced and Refugees for Center Regional Vojvodine], Committee [Helsinski odbor], Independent AssociationHelsinki Forum V-21, of Journalists studije], in zaVojvodina liberalne [Centar [NezavisnoStudies Liberal for drustvo novinara Center “Argus”, NGOs: by the following supported and was attended Convention Vojvodinian Fourth the parties, political the from Aside partija]. [Vojvodjanska Party Vojvodinian the and alternative] [Vojvodjanska Alternative Vojvodinian Madjara], vojvodjanskih [Savez Hungarians of Vojvodina Alliance partija], [Pancevacka of Pancevo Party The odbor], pokrajinski Partija, Demokratska [Liberalno committee provincial Party, Democratic Liberal Vojvodine], snaga [Evropska Vojvodina of Force European Vojvodine], Hrvata savez [Demokratski Vojvodina in of Croats Union Democratic stranka], [Banatska Party Banatean Rumuna], Vojvodjanskih [Alijansa Vojvodina 94 intellectual elite. who opt for a centralized state, but support can also be extensivefound among other public figuresVojvodinian and an from thisto The opposition its isvirtually impossible policiesperspective. own on autonomy mostly comesseparate administrative unit, which managewould its state affairs and social andeconomic from the rightistthe radical views of the Vojvodinianpolitical autonomy. To be precise, talking about Vojvodina as a parties and those by a minority theof andpeople does notseem likely become to prevalent in the near future. way substantial enough toactually in order Suchbe fulfilled. point of viewis still represented some support among Vojvodinians does exist for such a reorganization of the state, it is in no Serbia, isthe only possible thecoexistence way for future entities. of the two agreement, based the on unification ofVojvodinaand Serbia intoa Federative Republic of units which embody a common and complex civil union. written to in makeorder public thenewly voluntaryformed association ofthe federaltwo two constitutive entities of the Repubic of Serbia and that anew constitution should be 2012 minorities’ parties minorities’ constitutive example, republics. For Zivan Berisavljevic in a coalition with several national Declaration about the Foundations of Democratic Unification of Vojvodina and Serbia into a Federative into Serbia and of Vojvodina Unification of Democratic Foundations the about Declaration Political parties that participated in the Fourth Vojvodinian Convention are Alliance of Romaniansin http://www.vojvodjanskakonvencija.com/cetvrta-vojvodanska-konvencija/ Koordinacioni odbor sazivaca Cetvrte vojvodjanske Konvencije On the other hand, an equally resolute standpoint exists, representing the other pole of pole other the representing exists, standpoint resolute an equally hand, other On the referring largely Furthermore, new thatto a add they constitution anew historical 94 issueda declaration they claimthat inwhich are VojvodinaSerbia and 45 , 29 Mar 2012 accessed on 13 May on 13 accessed 2012 Mar 29 , 95 Although CEU eTD Collection Srpsko pitanje], Srpsko 96 Srpsko pitanje], Srpsko Djurovic (ed.) Autonomy of Vojvodina [Autonomija Vojvodine], cultural andreligious groups while usually not being characterized as a ‘melting pot’. context and thus Vojvodina is not the onlyVojvodina is today. Namely, is it actually a syntagm specifically in used the American region in Europe that is home to differentanalogy in the evaluation of thefeatures of multiconfessional ethnic, and multiethnic society that pot’. a ‘melting as known is America what in became never Vojvodina andconsequently happen not could eventually province were previously thementioned, claim authors a that deep politicallegal and integration the of politically integrate the region. Nevertheless, due to the lack of the two core conditions that economic connectedness and social structure did provide the province with conditions to recurrent in the texts that object to the Vojvodinian identity autonomy.and 98 p.9 97 future of Serbia would be uncertain. neighboring countries where they would constitute the majority population, and that the neighbors, with the argument that different ethnic groups wouldadhere to different likelihood ofthe dissolution Vojvodina of insuch acase andits partitioning between its its future would be insecure in case of separation from Serbia. Hypotheses exist about not fulfill does the basic conditions forthecreation ofa separate thatthe unit,political butalso one cannot possibly speak of Vojvodinian identity. is a formation, norexperience in these matters. They alsoclaim thethat lack nationalof identity claimJelena Popov thatthroughout history Vojvodina didnot have atradition of state Cedomir Popov and Jelena Popov, The Autonomy of Vojvodina – Serbian Question [Autonomija Vojvodine – Vojvodine [Autonomija Question –Serbian of Vojvodina Autonomy The Popov, Jelena and Popov Cedomir Cedomir Popov and Jelena Popov, The Autonomy of Vojvodina – Serbian Question [Autonomija Vojvodine – Vojvodine [Autonomija Question Serbian – ofVojvodina Autonomy The Popov, Jelena and Popov Cedomir Popov, Cedomir conditio sine qua non It isinteresting to note that Cedomir and Jelena Popov recognize factthe that The arguments for this standpoint are varied. For example, historians Cedomir and Krovovi, 2000. p.107 Krovovi, 2000. p.108 “ Vojvodina’s Autonomy – 12 theses [Autonomija Vojvodine – 12 teza]” in Borislav in teza]” 12 – Vojvodine [Autonomija theses 12 – Autonomy Vojvodina’s for the of administrative formation distinct entities, reasserting that 97 This is not a very probable scenario,though it is quite 98 this be using unfairto seemsitHowever,rather 46 96 Hence, they conclude that Vojvodina that conclude they Hence, Beogradski forum za svet ravnopravnih, 2004. ravnopravnih, svet za forum Beogradski CEU eTD Collection http://blog.vip.org.rs/?p=200 Vojvodini u prvom kvartalu 2012.], 101 [Helsinskiodbor za ljudska Serbia in prava u Srbiji], Rights 2006. p.25Human for Committee Helsinki 24]. Br. Sveske, Helsinske [Biblioteka 24 No. Notebook, Djurovic (ed.) Autonomy of Vojvodina [Autonomija Vojvodine], 99 Remarks of the rightist parties were taken into consideration and the proposal of the Statute waseventually Statute of the proposal the and consideration into taken were parties rightist of the Remarks of Serbia. Republic ofthe Assembly by the tobe adopted Statute for the order in scandals political several and 102 importantly the Vojvodinian Statute in 2009, opening of the regional office in Brussels, publishing of the Omnibus Law in 2002 andmost Vojvodinian budget increase, founding of theVojvodinian Academy of Arts and Sciences, recognize cultural, economic and political specificities of the province. With the 2012 importantthe most tasks that the politiciansbe able want regional tofulfill. to decentralization. Therefore, being in charge managementthe of their ownbudget of is one of for the province, thatwhich the majority of local politicians is consider managingstill their own resources invest. as businesses thenotand companies best foreign option most in which country fully realized in Serbia that is yet to finish the road to Vojvodine] in Pavel Domonji (ed.) Vojvodinian Identity [VojvodjanskiIdentitet]. 100 p.9 exponentially. grow to continues country the of the GDP regions. than other budget national the therest country of thatithasand economically been contributing tothe much more the biggest grievances of Vojvodinians is that the region is being used as a ‘milking cow’ by spheres oflife in the province, and particularly in the allocation of funds. about Vojvodina’s rights andduties consider that more balance needs tobeintroduced in all political individuality of Vojvodina do exist. That is why even those who are more reserved Cedomir Popov, “Vojvodina’s Autonomy – 12 theses [Autonomija Vojvodine – 12 teza]” in Borislav in teza]” –12 Vojvodine [Autonomija theses –12 Autonomy “Vojvodina’s Popov, Cedomir Vlastimira Stankovic,“FDI in Vojvodina inthe First Quarter od 2012[Direktne strane investicije u Dimitrije Boarov, “Economic Aspects of the Autonomy of Vojvodina [Ekonomski aspekti autonomije aspekti [Ekonomski Vojvodina of Autonomy the of Aspects “Economic Boarov, Dimitrije The Vojvodinian Statue provoked a very negative response from the part of the rightist parties. It took a year Ittook parties. rightist the part of the from response very negative provoked a Statue The Vojvodinian It shouldstill acknowledged be that have important steps been taken in to order According to DimitrijeAccording the to Boarov, findings that toshow Vojvodina‘s contribution Nevertheless, awareness the of specific mentality, andcultural, spiritual and even Vojvodina Investment Promotion 47 102 important foundation has been laidforthe Beogradski forum za svet ravnopravnih, 2004. ravnopravnih, svet za forum Beogradski , 5 Apr 2012 accessedon 14 May 2012 100 The province is also part of the of part is also The province 101 It does not surprise, then, The Library of the Helsinki of the The Library 99 Namely,of one CEU eTD Collection ɫɚɡɚɤɨɧɨɦ ɨɛɚɜɟɡɟɤɨʁɟȺɉȼɨʁɜɨɞɢɧɚɢɦɚɤɚɨɨɫɧɢɜɚɱʁɚɜɧɢɯɩɪɟɞɭɡɟʄɚɢɭɫɬɚɧɨɜɚɢɞɪɭɝɢɯɨɪɝɚɧɢɡɚɰɢʁɚɭɫɤɥɚɞɭ ɨɞɪɟɻɭʁɟɨɪɝɚɧȺɉȼɨʁɜɨɞɢɧɟɤɨʁɢɡɚɫɬɭɩɚȺɉȼɨʁɜɨɞɢɧɭɤɚɨɩɪɚɜɧɨɥɢɰɟɢɩɪɢɬɨɦɟɜɪɲɢɩɪɚɜɚɢ ȼɨʁɜɨɞɢɧɚɢɦɚɫɬɚɬɭɫɩɪɚɜɧɨɝɥɢɰɚ http://www.puma.vojvodina.gov.rs/dokumenti/zakoni/Statut_APV_2009.pdf 2009, p.1, accessed on 19 May 2012 103 state. modern a of keyfeatures ofthe some are which currency, bank or central missions, diplomatic police, ownmilitary, its changed without the consent of the citizens of Vojvodina be oncannot areferendum.and Srem) Backa, (Banat, Theareas province geographic of three does consists not, howeverIts territory a coat of arms. and a flag have Vojvodina is anautonomous province of all of Statute, its citizens with tothe Novi Sad according as its Namely, main province. administrative the to center. It has autonomy basic brings one that but document, secessionist Party and theSocialist Party of Serbia supported theVojvodinian Statute.Their view that is the Democratic Statute Liberal is notthe a Party, the Democratic hand, other On the state’. the inside a ‘state creates of Vojvodina Statute the that is concern chief andtheir 1389 Movement and the Serbia The New of Serbia, Party Democratic Party, Progressive Serbian Party, Radical Serbian the were parties opposition mainThe changed. somewhat what this document really whatitmeans and represents the for future of Vojvodina. The complaints. thesufficientcertainly incentivesfor the opposition to autonomy voiceVojvodinian theirto does give enough referencethe toconsider Vojvodinian case in this contextmost and formation of a single state, although evidently this ideaorganizations as asingle entity. Possibility onlydoes futureexist for developments toinclude a exists in theory. Nevertheless, it federal approach because nowadays the countries EU act infront other international of legal entity agreement, with which Lisabon istothe the contribution important future an important to emphasize as a point of reference that, for example, the EU got the status of a public companies andinstitutions and otherorganizations in of accordance with the law.” founder a as Vojvodina AP of obligations and rights performs thereby and entity legal decision determinesclearly the defined. body To beof precise,the the AP“the Vojvodina AssemblyArticle of AP Vojvodina which2 of bythe willthe provincial Statute,represent Assembly economic developmentthe and growth differentthe from the rest of the country which it is of.part province legal statusas a validation of this provinceand asaparticularmulticultural administrative entity with an of the autonomous province of Vojvodina is Statute of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina: Aricle 2 [Statut autonomne pokrajine Vojvodine: clan 2], The adoption of the Statute was thus preceded and followed by heateddebates about From the previously mentioned steps, the most contested is probably the Statute. In .” . ɋɤɭɩɲɬɢɧɚȺɉȼɨʁɜɨɞɢɧɟɩɨɤɪɚʁɢɧɫɤɨɦɫɤɭɩɲɬɢɧɫɤɨɦɨɞɥɭɤɨɦ 48 The text in original language: “ language: original in The text 103 It is It Ⱥɉ CEU eTD Collection 104 manjine: istorijsko-politikoloska studija], regije evropska tendencija.” evropska regije modern su da svesni biti Moramo uSpaniji. kao asimetricki treci i pokrajinama uitalijanskim kao predfederalni je drugi uticaj; i funkcije ozbiljne imaju pokrajine gde kao u Nemackoj, concept, federalni autonomije: modela tri postoje U Evropi Srbije. Ustavom sa sukobljava se ne statut ovaj recenicom jednom “Ni language: original central government and regional jurisdiction. regional and government central developments, instead but carefully dutiesandbalanceresponsibilities the the between developedand prosperous regions and that they should not fear the possible outcomes of such Similarly, I would also suggest that it is prudent for modern European states to have strong, one. We needtobe aware of the fact that modern regions are aEuropean tendency.” is like pre-federal inItalian provinces the and model third is asymmetric, Spanish like the such as the onein Germany, where provincesimportant have functions andinfluence, second of Serbia in a single sentence. currentsituation hisfollowingnot challenge Statute in does statement:”This theConstitution Three models of autonomy existPresident theof Assembly of inVojvodina, Sandor Egeresi,Europe: gives a good summary of the federal concepts, Momcilo Subotic, Serbian Vojvodina andMinorities: its historical-political Study [Srpska Vojvodina injene Institut za politicke studije Beograd, 2011. p.105 The quotation in 49 104 CEU eTD Collection 105 ethnic belonging of theethnic belongingIt was of participants. notintended the toobtain answers from members identity. myself, I was interested andeven scarcerto arethose researches that focus on theyouth. know Thirdly,young as a person what my peers fromon the existence of regional identity Vojvodinain Vojvodina are not nonexistent, they really are scarce, think about theirthe about the debate Vojvodinian identity in politicalthe circles. Secondly, researches while regional campaign was to youngthe people, because to a certain extentthese billboards did re-open several reasons. Firstly, I wasinterestedto find out how salient the ‘I am Vojvodinian’ school students and university students (18 to 27 years of age). I chose this age group due to Research the of Method and Subjects 5.1. than the percentage of focus groups. should beemphasized that todue organizational reasons, percentage ofinterviews ishigher groupsFocus and interviews were the two methods of research that were used, although it conducted on the topic of regional identity feelings of theyoung people from Vojvodina. literature, but it will focus on the analysis of the answers from a small-scale research that was Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Repository. (DOI) Identifier Object Digital from ofthisdownloadedthe digital the database well of articles library as from were as also Vojvodinian identity came from the National Library Serbiaof though a considerable number a widefrom literature on regional majorityidentity. The articles andbooks of the on Chapter 5- Answers from the Focus Groups and Interviews Digital Object Identifier (DOI)Repository Serbia My intention was to organize different focus groups according to the national or national tothe according groups focus different organize was to intention My All the participants of this research youngwere people, precisely graduating high Previous Previous chapters for the most part presentedthe data and results of analyses gathered 105 http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/ 50 This chapter will not be based on the existing CEU eTD Collection 107 Vojvodina is the following: Serbs –65%, Hungarians –15%, Romanians – 1.5% and Greeks- < 0.25%. 106 of Vojvodina, whowere all members of the Vojvodinian Serbian community with Bosnian focus groupconsisted of four university students from Backa Palanka, a city in the northwest group thatbetter and the results will therefore bemore useful for my research. Hence,one someone who has never moderated a focus Furthermore,group nonebefore, of the focus groups I infelt this research that consisted I would of more than fourmanage people. As a mini- of Vojvodina theirand director Lidia Jakus, Hungarian participants,some answers were also obtainedwith thehelp of the Youth Forum youth from the Greek community. Also, it should be emphasized that in the case ofthe while two focus groups were done with the members of Serbian community and one with the Interviews were done with the youth from the Romanian,Hungarian andSerbian groups, Subotica and four university students from Backa Palanka who formed one focus group. administrative center ofVojvodina,except for all the Hungarian interviewees whoare from about regional belonging. different ethnicities havemay incomprehensive views onregional identity feeland differently brings diversity to results, with the initial assumption that smaller andlarger groups of population of Vojvodina (Greeks). group (Romanians) andan ethnic group with a very small percentage in overallthe ethnic sized moderately asone as well (Hungarians), group minority largest and the (Serbs) four ethnic groups of different size.Namely, the research included the majority ethnic group have been virtually impossible to do in the framework of this MA thesis.Instead I focused on of each Vojvodina’sof 25 different ethnic groups because such a large-scale research would Youth Forum of Vojvodina of Forum Youth in groups ethnic mentioned above the of percentage estimated the census, population 2002 tothe According Regarding the focus groups, the total number of three is included in thisthesis. is included three of number the total groups, focus the Regarding Moreover, most participants of all ethnicities are from Novi Sad, the main http://vifo.rs/ 106 The idea thebehind selection of these groups was thatit 107 51 to whom I am very thankful. CEU eTD Collection TOTAL Greek Romanian Hungarian Serbian group Ethnic/national graphically Table 1 demonstrates it: group. ethnic Greek the lastly and Romanian then is Hungarian, group largest next the origin, group in the region. As a result the majorityof participantsin each group should be proportionalthe to percentage of each respective of the interviewed young people are of Serbian youngest participants in the research. graduating high school students of Serbian origin from Novi Sad, and these were the which is further explained laterUnexpectedly, this groupexpressedin the leastthe strong feeling of belonging thesis.to their ethnic group, Lastly, the secondthird focus group focus consisted of groupthree members of theconsisted Greek community from Novi Sad.of origins.four To be exact, they all came to live in Vojvodina after the war in Bosnia in 1995. The Table 1: The structure of participants according to their ethnic/national belonging and methods of research of methods and belonging ethnic/national their to according of participants The structure 1: Table As far as the ethnicity of the participants is considered, the idea was that the number 27 3 4 6 14 participated people who Number of 10 3 Novi Sad students from High school 3 groups Focus 52 from Backafrom Palanka University students 4 7 17 4 6 Interviews CEU eTD Collection youth sees as typical for the regional identification and also to inspect the strength of the used as a parameter in the comparison with the citizens from the other parts of the country. roots dating the back ruleto theof Austro-Hungarian Empire. Such a claimis most often statements from predominantly elder generations, that theVojvodinians have Europeandeep Europe as a wider region. This question was also inspired by one quite often read and heard two questions were as follows: were two questions participants were regarding the “I amVojvodinian” campaign from 2011. Therefore, the first remarks andstatements theabout region itself, enquire andto about how informed the striking. be it would that assumed not was it although groups, ethnic different of students the between found be can feeling identity regional inthe disparity that circumstances in Vojvodina exist for its development. Moreover, it was also hypothesized andforms other identification,of because the theoretical part of thethesis thatshowed hypothesis was that it does manage to compete with young people’s ethnic, national religious compete with manage to the other participants’ forms of identification? The original this research how important– is Vojvodinianthe identity thefor youth of the region? Does it 5.2. The Nature ofthe Questions 3. 2. 1. The following questions attempted toestablish general some characteristics that the to Europe, buta return to it.” When you see the following slogan, what comes to mind first? “I do not want a path Moreover,Sad? Novi in I slogans was mentioned alsopreviously the interested with billboards the seen you Have to know how much the VojvodinianWhathave you heardabout the campaign “I Vojvodinianam I – am what I am”? youth relates to As the groupsfocus andinterviews confirmed,it was best tobegin with some general The questions were designed in such a way to gradually come to the main interest of 53 CEU eTD Collection thoroughly in analyzed thelast part of this Thelastchapter. two questions wereas follows: be also will this but Sloveni’, ‘Hej hymn Yugoslav former the about reaction nostalgic further research.be analyzed inthis thesis, which are certainly interesting In theenough be to some focus of addition, as regards and theirmaterial thanpreservation providing ethno-linguisticspecificities also of more can the anthem origin.some interesting This debate the up opened about immigrants questions integration of the very mention accentuation and pronunciationof that inis more the spirit oftheir birth placeplace and of it provoked somespeaking,characterized by drawl and slowness inspeech, whetheror they should retain the of manner Vojvodinian the adopt should to Vojvodina immigrated who those whether Precisely, they started the discussionof the term‘language’ in group focus the of university students Backafrom Palanka. about the way of speaking and stressing of words and identity, autonomy,Europe). reaction severalfrom participants, possibly to theirdue multiplicity of meanings (language, question somewhat unexpected but certainly exciting. The last question provoked quite a this the answers to thenot of thisthesis, Ifound thiswas mainpurpose six. Although to a degree ahierarchy between differentidentifications ofthe students with question number sort of consensus exists onat least one shared valueVojvodinians. of answers tolerancestressed as oneof the main characteristics, so one couldconclude that a when participants wereaskedto describea ‘typical Vojvodinian’,a high percentage of regional identity feeling. It is worth mentioning that although diverse opinions were shared 5. 4. The last two questions were written on a piece of paper. The purpose was to establish Vojvodinian.” feel “I quote: following the to react you do How What does it mean for you to be Vojvodinian? Describe a typical Vojvodinian person. Furthermore, an unexpected but quite fascinating debate developed upon the mention 54 CEU eTD Collection significance toit.significance that they of thewere aware surrounding debate alsobut that they not did attach much recollections of both the criticism andsupport for the idea behindthe billboards, implying heard anything about this campaign, although a minor number of participants have seen the billboards in Novi Sad. A great or majority campaign Vojvodinian” the“I am about heard have even groups) of focus students (including people from all ethnic groups have not that27 interviewedout only of show findings mostsurprising 5 Namely,interviews.the and groups focus the both from drawn still were conclusions important constraints, 5.3. Analysis of the Answers STUDENT 7. 6. While the research was done without a representative sampleto due logistictime and What comes to mind first when you hear the following words: to youand 5 with the least significance: Rank the following terms from 1 to 5, 1 being the term with the highest significance EUROPE AUTONOMY IDENTITY LANGUAGE BOZE PRAVDE SERBIA (the official anthem ofthe Republic of Serbia) VOJVODINA NATIONAL/ETHNIC 55 BELONGING FROM COME PLACE YOU CEU eTD Collection for Vojvodinians include a generally relaxed attitude towards the world and slowness in motions and speech. and motions in slowness and world the towards attitude relaxed generally a include for Vojvodinians stereotypes Other exquisite. being for country the throughout famous also is cuisine Vojvodinian the but food, 108 Vojvodinians, and that is being gourmand. answers this to question referthe to emphasis onthefeature that is very often ascribed to that other people think of as ‘specific’ are merely stereotypes. Probably the exciting most existence any characteristics of Vojvodinians,arethat for particular assertingfeatures the that see the not Romanian do 4 interviewees of out Conversely, interviewees. 2 Serbian (4) cultures as the coreNamely, theGreek group especiallyfocus emphasizedtolerance and openness other to values of Vojvodinians,research showed that certain values areindeed emphasized as ‘typically Vojvodinian’. and so did the majority of Hungarianalready been there.Neither are wethe same, nor is Europe.” (5) and well expressed in the followingexpressed quote: uncertainty “Destinationrespectively) and 2 (4 group Romanian and the Serbian both from interviewees several ofthat how ismuch destination, ‘they’ really it’s expressed disappointment with belongedthe currentEuropean Also,prospects. it should revealedbe irrelevant to Europe if we inhave thestatementbiased identified andit as rhetoric a toolandwhile propaganda, two them of past and this is participants pointed out that the slogan “I do not want a path to Europe, but a return to it” is peoplea needchange to toin order a become part of Europe again.”Half Hungarian theof pessimism about the progress in the European integrations because of the “mentality that slight expressed and EU withthe Europe identified mostly group focus school high the the pastfutureor not did associate the theparticipants to above mentionedcampaign. Instead, answers as well. Of all the participants, itwas young mostly people ofSerbian and Greek The stereotypes for Vojvodinians indeed often include references to gastronomy and appreciation fortasty appreciation and gastronomy to references include often indeed for Vojvodinians Thestereotypes As far as the characteristics and common values of Vojvodinians are concerned, the Moreover, the question referring to the ‘European path’ and whether it is a thing of Furthermore, the question about ‘feeling Vojvodinian’ produced some intriguing produced the ‘feeling Vojvodinian’ about question Furthermore, 108 56 CEU eTD Collection young Vojvodinians. Also, most of the Hungarian (75%) and Serbian (65%) students situate students (65%) and Serbian (75%) Hungarian the of most Also, Vojvodinians. young the90%) of overall answers showed that beingstudent wasa the primary identification of receivedto the one referring to thehierarchy identities.of Namely,a great majority (about occupation. To be precise, of all the questions asked, the most unequivocal answers were young that it was expected withwould thebe mostly not people identifying their themselves identification, territorial specific a to belonging of feelings and identity regional was research resulted from the question number six were quite unforeseen. stilla much more and in extensive theparticipants more research it, but some thatof findings Namely, since the focus of this about hierarchy identitiesof among Vojvodinian youth. Certainly, is this a that topic requires answers in thiswere group quite diverseno sogeneral conclusions could bemade here. special region by and this a special category, state ofmind, surrounding, feeling other side: “I absolutely Vojvodinianfeel I and like the expression because it is really a Vojvodinian is a sort of brainwashing.having any feelings.such The following thisstatements capture tendency: “Feeling I feel like the residentfrom a wholeheartedof planet support Earth” and pride inand thevaried interviewees Vojvodinianfrom Hungarian from reactions belonging, theregional the towards sentiments identity to a complete negation of debates frequentlyone does come across similar statements. in this researchdistinction between Vojvodinians and Serbs south ofof Danube.” Although it is a solesuch example a statement,out that she had previously been told thatit “Vojvodinians pointed interviewee one Interestingly, should identification. such against anything having not least do not exist. Still I bedo make a clearpointedClose to 70% of Serbian participantsout expressedeither support for such identity thator at the very on online nationality acknowledgedwho andattachedimportance to their Vojvodinian identification. forums and Among other tasks, one goal of this research was to try to establish if one can speak While the members ofthe Romanian group did not generally express any strong 57 …” The CEU eTD Collection http://www.nationalanthems.info/yug.htm and then Serbia in 2006, the union was dissolved and the anthemof Montenegro, hadindependence the no With more popular. more legalstanding.being federation Source: inthe republics two of the anthems local constituent parts to formits of the national anthems anthem.)the "Hej Slaveni" remained combined also theanthem anthem during this time,Yugoslav despite first the as the beadopted, to were proposal ifthis interesting been have would (It Games. Olympic 2004 the for time in Sloveni" "Hej, replace to considered was being and Zoro", majska svijetla "Oj Montenegrin the of verse one by followed pravde" "Bože Serbian of the line last the but of all consists which attention, government recieved Markovic by Slobodan one ofwhich anthem, national the change to wereproposals there time, that anthem.Since Yugoslav old the retained and Montenegro, and independence in the 1990s, the nations that were left in the had declared federation federation changed Yugoslav of the members the most the name of After of 1988. in the country official made to Serbiafinally was and in1977, anthem temporary the was declared it citizens; the with choice popular most the remained Slaveni" "Hej but anthem, for a permanent was undertaken search A defeat. Axis the after of Yugoslavia establishment re- the upon anthem national temporary the and became government), the (later, movement resistance of the Slavonic states,the song seemed to be a natural fit for mainly post-royalist of Yugoslavia.It a was confederation sung Being at firstthe meetings words). Slovak II War (with World during of Slovakia anthem the becoming in fact community, Slavic whole the with popular soon became that anthem an he composed to), identical almost is melody the (which anthem Polish the from inspiration Taking homeland. his in identity of cultural loss 109 groupthe of Backafocus from university students Palanka,stating thata hymnbetter could previous hymn (‘Hey Slavs’) thatone pointedit interviewees, nationalismthe with out andof the resonated Romanian Greek students who thought of their national belonging as theirleast identifier. important ethnic belonging provided quite mixedanswers in each of the focus groups, except among the respondents and second for the majority of Greek and Romanian respondents. National or the most third importantVojvodina identifier. alsocomes thirdfor half ofthe Hungarian well as for the half of theyoung participants of Serbian nationality,who place Vojvodina as fourth place for the majority of Romanian students, just thebefore national identification,as the Hungarian interviewees, and second tofirst place. last in the Greek of focusVojvodina group. largely It positionsisthe city/town they as come from the second most alsoimportant identifier, while the Greek youth theiron the place of origin, which in this case is Novi Sad, on the “Hej Sloveni” or ("Hej Slaveni") was composed in the mid nineteenth century by a Slovak in response to the Of all the terms given in the last question, the hymn provoked the most debate. To 2 In so far as the identification with Serbia is considered, it takes the last place among 109 was much better. Similar answers to the latter were given by 58 CEU eTD Collection among the Vojvodinian youth. not be assumed, and this is particularly for true sensitive topics such as regional identity every Universality of andviews group. opinion from participantssingleshould topic on any questions they were asked, although naturally some differences can be found among the groups that participated in this research, did not provide diametrically opposite answers to the for a significant number of young Vojvodinians. In general, the youth from the four ethnic such as tolerance,respect for other cultures andhospitality remain specific Vojvodinian traits young Vojvodinians there is certainly the place suchfor identification. Also, some values considered, the conclusion is the withotherforms of Vojvodinian of identification identity ability compete is to that in the minds and hearts theof the most majority positive of orthe at with interviewed leastthe ones were respondents Greek and the Serbian that showed also the thefindings although least negative sentimentgroup, ethnic in one predominantly develop not youth does Vojvodinian towards the among feeling Vojvodinianism. As far while some answersas came as asurprise. Namely,it was confirmed that regional identity national minorities’ groups havedid not any feelings theparticular towards anthem. and Slovenes. Hence, it does not come as a surprise that the majority of participants from the Kingdom of Serbs until 1918, which is yearthe of the formation of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats reasons”. It should be pointed out that the current hymn was originally the hymn of the have been chosen and that it is a “complete horror imposed for unknown bizarreand The overall conclusions of this research didconfirm someofthe initial hypotheses, 59 CEU eTD Collection veracity veracity exists in discoursethe theof previously actors mentionedregarding regional identity, the actors who alsosupport decentralization of the country. In order to determine how much significant fact is that the support forcivil the reemerging society regional actors identity whose discoursethis context it is very important to understandthe motives ofthe politicians, intellectuals and role comes in fromthe regional identityterritorially building isbased crucial. identity also has theand potential forfragmentation of acountry precisely because it is asIn suchthis respect,could be a themultitude of ethnicgroups, asis the in case Vojvodina. Nevertheless, in some cases regional origin of disintegrativeidentity havedoes the potential to overcome national differences ina region inhabited by a political aspirations.other very socialpowerful identifications. Namely,since it isterritorially based, regional In country. in the living groups national and ethnic other from population regional the of belonging ethnic different the in lie can identity regional of basis special developments in the regions of acountry, like or, in the case ofthe Basque people, disparate socio-historical conditions that asa consequencein resulted the diversification and population ofattachment to that particular territory alsoand if afeeling of distinctiveness the from the rest of potentialthe toemerge as a strong identification theof people when they feel emotional country exists.important part thisof research. Themain findings indicate thatregional identity havedoes the Reasonsmake regional identity attractive and different from other social identifications was also an for such a determine circumstanceswhich under isthis feeling possible. Moreover, analysis ofthe features that can equallybe powerful typefound of identification as the national, ethnicin and religious ones, and to Chapter 6–Conclusions In addition, certain attributes makeindeed regional identity able to compete with The purpose thisof thesis was to establish if regional identity can emerge as an 60 CEU eTD Collection encompasses different ethnic, religious and cultural identifications of Vojvodinians, identifications. important place in their identification and that its appeal finds its place among other powerful simply it an the that takes Vojvodinians, important of but for majority most identification it not thatbe Nonetheless,assumed social should identifications. to otherimportant itis the andat least moderately receptive audience, regional identity not would seenbe as competitor a receptive audience in Vojvodina. Hence, aconclusion is drawn that an without adequate prominent element of the political discourse, that it does inspire debates andthat it does have documents, internet forums and newspapers articles showed that regional identity is a generally well received by many Vojvodinians. in the regional identity buildingself-evident. Still, even though the universal values area point of reference commonly rhetoric,used the findings ofthe the countryresearch showare thatto be itfound is ancommon idea invalues relation of the Vojvodinians, to but thissince very topic,littlethe country. Another feature thatiscomparable often stressed by the supporters regionalof identity are such data to statementsother regions of shouldexpressed as a point of diversification from notthe population living in other parts beand regions of taken as social, historicalcultural and anddevelopments demographic elements, anditis most often discourse in the province. The feeling of distinctivenessis largely based on the different emergence ofregionalidentity possibleexist do andare often reproduced in the political regional identity. it is analyze best to thenarratives of the people from a particular region theirand view on It was suggestedalso that regional identity should be asa promoted thatframework Furthermore, the research analysisand a of number of academic works, books, The analysis showed that in the Vojvodinian case preconditions that usually make the 61 CEU eTD Collection Vojvodinian identity can fully reach its integrative and bonding potential thus contributing to the economic prosperitycontributing and social thus cohesion of the country. potential bonding and integrative its reach fully can identity Vojvodinian regional identity should be promotedand diffused. It is only in this framework that peaceful ethnic coexistence, cooperation, mutual cultural pluralism anda tolerant society, important social identificationother forms of identification, but to emphasize that itindeed can and does emerge as an and also to point to its diverse potentials.Vojvodinian identity. As a platformalso often understood as motivesfor for both the dispersion of and opposition to the idea of political implications that add to the complexity of theto the diffusion topic of regional identityof does notregional only come from theoretic considerations. identity It is the and they are the andthe opposition region, of the specificities andcherishing multiculturalism promoting intentions its behind reproduction in publicthe arenot alwaysdiscourse directed at acknowledging that the support for such idea does not come universally. Namely, the The aim this of thesis was notto demonstrate the prevalence of regional identity over 62 CEU eTD Collection Djurovic Borislav (ed.) 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