NATIONALISM AND THE TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OF THE

YUGOSLAVS: CHALLENGE TO RE-MAP THE BALKANS IN THE 21ST

CENTURY

Assoc. Prof. Vladislav B. SotirovicMykolas Romeris UniversityFaculty of Politics and ManagementInstitute of Political Sciences http://www.sotirovic.euvsotirovic@mruni.eu

Nationalism is political principle according to which political unity (i.e. state) should be

overlapped with national unity (i.e. nation)

Gellner E., Nations et nationalisme, Editions Payot, Paris, 1989, p. 13

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A long-standing (perpetual?) peace among the Yugoslav (and the Balkan) ethnic groups and regional security may not be reached without a proper determination of “national ownership” and establishment of “national governance” over the disputable territories

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Final historical and natural “task” of each Yugoslav ethnic group is to live in united national state

This “national sacral task” is to be realized by any means

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Ethnographic borders should be transformed into national-state borders

In other words, state borders should follow current ethnolinguistic dispersion of people but as well in great extent and historical borders of “national” state 9

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Soccer: Serbia-Albania, Belgrade, 14. 10. 2014

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Territories where the nation is in majority and living there for the long period of time (regardless that these territories are not belonging to the nation according to the “historic rights”) had to be included into the national united state 24

“Ethnic rights”

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“Ethnic” society was usually preferred instead of “civil” society among the Yugoslavs

Person is usually identifying himself with ethnonational belonging

Nation can be “realized” only in its own national state

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Thank You for Your attention! More info at: www.jugoslavologija.eu

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