Serbian Orthodoxy between traditional and universal values: Discourse analysis of the Journal Orthodoxy

Abstract

The authors analyzed a discursive production of the Serbian Christian Orthodox community as it appeared in the Orthodoxy journal, published by the Serbian Orthodox Church. The aim was to identify the discourse producers, i.e. the contributors / article writers and to investigate the nature of discursive strategies used for the preservation of traditional values. The methodological approach of journal analysis is based on the grounded theory and was supported by Castoriadis' conception of social imaginary. After data processing three main matrix codes appears: the codes that refers to the discourse regarding traditional values defended by the discourse producers through the imaginary of 'US' - the narratives on Serbian nation, national culture and national identity; the codes that refers to the discourse regarding the imaginary of 'THEM' - the West, Europe, Western civilization and culture; the codes that refers to the universal values as something disputable through the imaginary of 'US versus THEM' - democracy, tolerance, and human rights. The discourse that creates the imaginary of 'US' is based mainly on the sacralisation of Serbian nation, which leads to the national religionism; the imaginary of 'THEM' is achived through the essentialization of Western world; the third discourse which confrontes 'US vs. THEM' reflects a struggle between traditional and universal values. By questioning the basic principles of Western societies the article writers and contributors in the Orthodoxy journal intended to make difference between 'Us' and 'Them' in order to stay competitive and continue to influence the Serbian society.