FOR THE HOMELAND: TRANSNATIONAL DIASPORIC NATIONALISM AND THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST SLAVIŠA MIJATOVIĆ A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOGRAPHY YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, CANADA December 2014 © Slaviša Mijatović, 2014 Abstract This project examines the extent to which the Eurovision Song Contest can effectively perpetuate discourses of national identity and belonging for diasporic communities. This is done through a detailed performance analysis of former Yugoslav countries’ participations in the contest, along with in-depth interviews with diasporic people from the former Yugoslavia in Malmö, Sweden. The analysis of national symbolism in the performances shows how national representations can be useful for the promotion of the state in a reputational sense, while engaging a short-term sense of national pride and nationalism for the audiences. More importantly, the interviews with the former Yugoslav diaspora affirm Eurovision’s capacity for the long-term promotion of the ‘idea of Europe’ and European diversities as an asset, in spite of the history of conflict within the Yugoslav communities. This makes the contest especially relevant in a time of rising right-wing ideologies based on nationalism, xenophobia and racism. Key words: diaspora, former Yugoslavia, Eurovision Song Contest, music, nationalism, Sweden, transnationalism ii Acknowledgements Any project is fundamentally a piece of team work and my project has been no different. I would like to thank a number of people and organisations for their faith in me and the support they have given me: William Jenkins, my supervisor. For his guidance and support over the past two years, and pushing me to follow my desired research and never settling for less. Ulrich Best, my second reader. For his insightful comments and dedicated and meticulous reading and feedback, helping me better my work. York University’s Graduate Program in Geography headed by Alison Bain and Raju Das, and coordinated by Yvonne Yim. For addressing my million questions and issues over the past two years and always finding a way to help me out. Andreas Önnerfors at Malmö University. For his warm welcome to the University and all the help he has provided me with there, including his generosity in allowing my own proposed research to be presented at the academic conference on Eurovision in 2013. Jaarmo Siim from the EBU. For approving my Eurovision accreditation, which allowed for a more in-depth understanding of the song contest, as well as allowing me to conduct my desired interviews, as well as make friends for a lifetime. Daniel Trudeau at Macalester College. For proposing I should study Eurovision in graduate school and sparking the initial idea for this whole venture. Holly Barcus at Macalester College. For being the most amazing undergraduate advisor and one who helped me crystallise so many ideas for this project in its very inception. Samantha Ross. For sharing my Eurovision obsession and convincing me to never give up on the contest. Without you, there would be none of this. Mojan Jianfar and Nicole Maine for being my study-buddies and Anit Saini for helping me with the identification of musical instruments in my performance analysis. JetFuel Coffe Shop, Inc. in Toronto. Their premises served as the single most important writing location for this project, and helped my creative juices going thanks to their delicious coffee. And last but not least, Neven Mikač. For being a great partner, friend, proof-reader, panic- relaxer, Eurovision-tolerator, music instrument consultant, and much more. iii Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii List of Images and Maps .............................................................................................................. viii Chapter One: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Research Rationale and Objectives ............................................................................. 1 Research Statement and Context ................................................................................. 3 Methodological Framing and Positionality ................................................................. 6 Relevance of the Project .............................................................................................. 8 Structure of the Paper .................................................................................................. 9 Chapter Two: The Theory and Practice of Transnationalism and Diaspora ................................. 11 1. Sweden – from Multiculturalism to Integration.................................................................... 11 World War II and Labour Migrations ....................................................................... 12 Transitioning Towards Family Reunification ........................................................... 14 Post-1989 Migrations and Hardened Attitudes ......................................................... 16 The Political Shift to the Right .................................................................................. 18 Disconnects of Swedish Reputation and Realities .................................................... 21 2. The Anatomy of former Yugoslav Communities in Malmö: Transnationalism, Diasporas and the Everyday....................................................................................................................... 24 Transnational Perspectives ........................................................................................ 25 Diasporic Perspectives .............................................................................................. 30 Towards A Theoretical Middle-Ground .................................................................... 33 Former Yugoslav communities in the Malmö metropolitan area (MMA) ................ 37 Chapter Three: The Nation and the Eurovision Song Contest ...................................................... 47 1. The Nation and Nationalism in the Everyday ....................................................................... 47 Performing the Nation in the Everyday ..................................................................... 48 2. Geography, Music and the Nation: the Eurovision Song Contest ........................................ 51 Choruses, Anthems, and National(ist) Music in Europe ........................................... 53 iv Cold War Geopolitics and Eurovision ....................................................................... 56 Performance and Identity Politics in Eurovision ....................................................... 59 Bringing it Together: Eurovision, Diasporas, and (Trans)national Belonging ......... 69 Chapter Four: Methods and Reflections ....................................................................................... 74 Semi-Structured One-on-One Interviews and Sampling ........................................... 74 Performance Analysis ................................................................................................ 80 Chapter Five: Everyday Spaces for Diasporic Mobilisation ......................................................... 84 1. Setting the Stage for the Social Mobilisation of Diasporas .................................................. 84 External Differentiation via a Hierarchy of Immigrants ........................................... 85 Internal Differentiations: Mentality Clashes and Class Issues .................................. 90 2. Facilitating Master Frames for Diasporic Identification and Belonging .............................. 95 A Sense of Diasporic and Transnational Belonging ................................................. 96 War and Nationalism as Master Frames of National Identity ................................. 103 Chapter Six: National Symbolism, Diasporic Nationalism and the Eurovision Song Contest ... 110 1. Performing the Nation on the Eurovision Stage ................................................................. 110 The Performance Analysis Process ......................................................................... 111 Major Trends and Observations in the Performances ............................................. 113 2. Engaging Eurovision, Its Failures and Successes ............................................................... 125 Aspects of Eurovision’s (Ir)Relevance .................................................................... 125 The Promotional Power of Eurovision .................................................................... 129 “Together Unite, Unite Europe!” ............................................................................ 135 Chapter Seven: Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 139 My Contribution and What is to be