Yugoslav Countries Research Articles

Meaningful acknowledgement: how to evaluate acknowledgement in transitional justice interactions using deliberative reciprocity?

ABSTRACT Acknowledgment of wrongdoing is considered necessary for relationship transformation in processes of transitional justice. However, the concept has only been studied in the institutional and legal context. Its social and interpersonal dimensions at the micro level remain poorly understood. This article addresses this gap by studying interactions between ordinary citizens across ethnic lines in response to war crimes trials. The article uses deliberative reciprocity to create a novel typology to identify meaningful acknowledgement in 162 inter-ethnic exchanges derived from focus groups in four former Yugoslav countries. The study also identifies what triggers this ideal type and finds that the triggers are related to conversational changes in identity constructions and knowledge claims. But the triggers only occur when individuals also endorse each other’s views across ethnic lines. The article thus shows how relationships transform in inter-ethnic interactions, even when individuals hold differing views and arguments about transitional justice.

The Main Security Challenges and Threats in the Western Balkans and Possible Model for Solving Them in the Process of European Integration

In a narrower sense, within the geo-political jargon of the European Union, the term “Western Balkans” is used alongside the term “Southeast Europe”. The Western Balkans encompasses the former Yugoslav countries of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, excluding Slovenia but including Albania. After the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, objective reasons emerged that prompted the need for new forms of cooperation between the new and existing countries in order to promote reconciliation and stabilise the Western Balkans. NATO and the EU played a predominant role in this process, along with certain Member States of these international organisations. The aggression by Russia against Ukraine on 24th February 2022, the situation in the Middle East, and the complexity of relations between China and the United States regarding Taiwan have compelled all European countries to recognise that these conflicts pose an immediate threat to European security. Analysing the foreign policy aspects and their impact on regional security, it is essential to highlight that the Western Balkans is characterised by weak governance, a fragile civil society, and geopolitical disputes. These internal and regional factors make the region highly susceptible to local and external disinformation campaigns. On the other hand, China represents a significant global partner for Serbia, and it is important to point out that since 2016, investments from China have been accelerating and also that in the period from 2016 to 2023, about 96% of the total investments were made, a total of 5.3 billion euros, and that in each of those years, China was among the five most important investors in Serbia (Politika, 7th May 2024). As the most influential state economically and politically in the Western Balkans, Serbia has the potential to influence other countries in the region toward alternative centres of power. The latest NATO Strategic Concept, adopted in Madrid in 2022, emphasises the strategic importance of the Western Balkans and the Black Sea region for the Alliance, and NATO has expressed its readiness to continue supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of interested countries in these regions. The Berlin Process (BP) is an intergovernmental initiative aimed at connecting the Western Balkan countries (WB6) with the European Union and facilitating the development of mutual relations based on European values. The focus of the process lies in high-level cooperation between WB6 officials and their EU partners. It also involves EU institutions, international financial institutions, civil society, youth, and businesses in the region. One of the significant advantages of the Berlin Process is the financing of planned and assumed commitments from EU funds, unlike most other initiatives where states finance their participation from their own budgets.

Decolonizing Literary Studies: Unveiling Postcolonial Narratives in Post-Yugoslav Academic Curricula*

This paper explores the presence and integration of postcolonial studies in literature education within the faculties of philology in the capitals of the former Yugoslav countries. Focusing on the emerging field of critical curriculum studies, the research delves into the nuanced landscape of literature education, particularly at higher levels, specifically emphasizing literary students’ specialized education. The study contextualizes postcolonial studies as a hybrid space for theoretical discourse, tracing its roots to anticolonial critique and contemporary Western theories. Drawing on the anticolonial heritage of socialist Yugoslavia and its involvement in the Non-Aligned Movement, the paper navigates the complexities of (post)colonial dynamics in the Balkans. This paper investigates the presence, or absence, of postcolonial theory in literature curricula within humanities faculties in the former Yugoslav countries’ capital cities. This research is based on the close interconnection of literature and postcolonial theory, whose origins lie within the literary representation of colonization relations. The primary objective is to discern the extent to which postcolonial studies are integrated into literary education and what implications this holds within the national context. Through an examination of course programs and content at various academic levels, the research aims to illuminate the role of postcolonial theory in shaping the narrative of literature education in the context of the former Yugoslavia.

Cartography of Resistance: Zagreb 1941-1945: An interview

On the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of Zagreb, a few interested researchers and activists, supported by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southeast Europe (RLS SEE) in partnership with Zagreb-based curatorial collective [BLOK], started to work on a project entitled Cartography of Resistance [Kartografija otpora]. The starting point is the underground networks established for the purpose of resistance to the fascist Ustasha [Ustaša] authorities during the Second World War on the territory of the Yugoslav countries (1941-1945), which were rooted in the interwar left-oriented labor movement and activism of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia [Komunistička partija Jugoslavije, KPJ]. The research has been carried out in two phases; during 2015 and 2016, and from 2020 until 2022. Both focused on spatial, organizational, political, gender and social aspects of the resistance movement. During the first phase emerged the website “kartografija-otpora.org” that mapped the resistance on the territory of the city of Zagreb. On the basis of research carried out in the second phase, the book entitled Kartografija otpora: Zagreb 1941.-1945. (ed. Josip Jagić, Marko Kostanić) was written and published. The book consists of nine chapters total, where the first three, written by Karlo Držaić, Saša Vejzagić and Josip Jagić, deal with the general institutional and social history of the resistance movement. Krešimir Zovak in his contribution tackles the Peoples’ Justice [Narodna Pravda], exploring controversial topic of Partisan courts. Barbara Blasin wrote about Antifascist Women’s Front in Zagreb, while Ana Lovreković dealt with women working for the Party’s Local Committee. Petra Šarin wrote about Agitprop and the underground printing services. Stefan Treskanica and Goran Korov, members of the team from 2015, investigated the phenomenon of Peoples’ Aid [Narodna pomoć] and explored the activities of the KPJ in the prewar period, between 1931 and 1941. The website was also updated on the basis of these findings with more than 200 locations of terror and resistance. We asked the contributors about the content and specific importance of this book.

What Explains Party Membership in Post-Yugoslav Countries: Socialism, Nationalism, Clientelism or False Reporting?

Abstract Earlier studies on party membership in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) led to the conclusion that political parties in new democracies are not inclined to build strong party organisations or invest in recruiting members. However, several recent individual country studies point to the opposite conclusions, indicating that there are significant cross ‑country variations in party membership figures across the post ‑communist region. By using a unique dataset on party membership in post ‑communist Europe, in this article we argue that the average membership level in CEE seems to be higher than in Western Europe. This holds true even when party membership figures for CEE countries are ‘corrected’ after conducting validity and reliability tests. Furthermore, we also find that party membership figures across CEE countries vary to a much higher degree than in established Western democracies. Our analysis shows that former Yugoslav countries are clustered at the top and other CEE countries at the bottom, leading to the conclusion that selection bias has been present in many studies on party membership that only included a limited number of post ‑communist countries. In order to explain higher levels of party membership in post ‑Yugoslav countries, we test three sets of explanatory variables, namely socialism, nationalism and clientelism. This exploratory study suggests that nationalist movements from the early period of transition, coupled with clientelistic politics, could serve as the most convincing explanation of high membership density in former Yugoslav countries.

Analiza stepena pravne nezavisnosti Hrvatske narodne banke i Narodne banke Republike Severne Makedonije

The stability of each country's monetary system depends on the quality of operations of its Central Bank, as one of the most important institutions. Due to their great importance, central banks hold a special place in scientific analysis. For a Central Bank to successfully achieve its objectives, it has to operate independently of the executive and legislative powers. Through content analysis and the comparative method, this paper analyzes and compares different parameters and indices measuring the independence of the central banks of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of North Macedonia. Considering that the independence of a Central Bank is inextricably linked with its credibility, this paper conducts research that answers the question - what is the level of legal independence of the Croatian National Bank and the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia? It can be said that, in the last decade, both the legal and actual independence of these central banks has reached its peak, but a certain degree of political dependence is still noticeable. There are certain differences in terms of political influence from country to country, but in any case, the syndrome of political dependence in former Yugoslav countries when compared to developed countries is extremely recognizable. The Republic of Croatia, as a member of the European Union, had to harmonize its laws on this issue, so it can be said that there are certain differences compared to other countries in this region. Central banks in countries that once belonged to the same Communist bloc, and which today have different statuses in relation to the European Union, are excellent examples for analyzing the degree of operational independence in relation to state power. The status of the Central Bank in a certain national and economic system depends on the legislation of that country, i.e., the constitutional norms and laws governing the Central Bank.

From Apparent Unity to Diversity: Penal Policies of (Former) Yugoslav Republics

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive study of penal policies of (former) Yugoslav countries in the last 70 years. The Yugoslavian penal policy has been unique in the sense of leniency but was by no means uniform in its implementation. A comparative analysis of the development of penal policy in the observed states, supported by statistical data on crime, conviction and prison populations, revealed that differences have been profound. While disparities between states in the socialist era were predominately seen in the crime characteristics, number and type of convictions, and the length of prison sentences, today, former Yugoslav republics are diverse as they can be, ranging from the penal moderation of Slovenia to harsh penal policies in Serbia and Montenegro. Based on the findings, it can be argued that the influence of regional diversity, based on historical and cultural identity, should be acknowledged in studying penal policy.

Annemarie Sorescu-Marinković, Thede Kahl, and Biljana Sikimić, eds. Boyash Studies: Researching “Our People”

Annemarie Sorescu-Marinković, Thede Kahl, and Biljana Sikimić, eds. <i>Boyash Studies: Researching “Our People”</i>

A systematic review on Post-Cold War Eastern European Patterns Led by Constructivism

This article will explain the reasons why the former European socialist countries chose to embrace the West after the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, and the post-Cold War Eastern European Patterns Led by constructivism. This will find a more plausible theory in the theory of international relations to explain what happened in a specific area in this specific historical period. Literature review is applied in this article to explore definitions of theories and specific policies and data across countries. This article uses some authoritative books on international relations, as well as materials from the World Trade Organization. Some of these materials are the most targeted data provided by the International Trade Organizations to indicate the policy tendency of former Yugoslav countries. In the article, the cases from different regions point out that constructivism is the most reasonable explanation for the former European socialist countries to embrace the West after the dramatic change in Eastern Europe. The article will provide some more specific policy trends in the history of the region for the situation in Eastern Europe that has gradually heated up in recent times. Under the influence of constructivism, the vast majority of former socialist countries in Eastern Europe invariably adopt pro-Western behaviors. There are many reasons for constructivism to become the mainstream theory of diplomacy in Eastern Europe, including the legacy of history and the influence of the "Iron Curtain".

Claims to ignorance as a form of participation in transitional justice

Transitional justice is premised on participation that allows local publics to construct, critique and have some ownership over the process. The current scholarship assumes that individuals openly express their views of the process, or that they remain silent. The scholarship has neglected a third, significant form of participation: active withholding of views by saying ‘I don’t know’. This article examines such claims to ignorance and argues that they can provide insight into participation. While both qualitative and quantitative researchers of transitional justice have observed a pervasive pattern of high ‘don’t know’ responses, such claims to ignorance have not been studied. This article develops a theoretical framework that shows that ‘don’t know’ responses are a valuable source of information and argues that they are often an expression of a lack of willingness to respond, rather than genuine ignorance. Drawing on an original corpus of data collected through inter-ethnic focus groups and surveys conducted in four former Yugoslav countries, the study demonstrates how claims to ignorance are constructed as novel manifestations of resistance, restraint or disentitlement. These point to a rejection of transitional justice, which needs to be addressed if individuals are to feel like legitimate participants in the process.

COMPARISON OF THE TEACHING CURRICULUM IN MATHEMATICS BETWEEN MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA IN VI (VII) GRADE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL

The aim of this research is to compare the basic goals and tasks, learning outcomes or contents / concepts, mathematical curriculum for VI (VII) primary schools used in Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Mathematical curriculum for Montenegro of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia is relatively analyzed in the following research work: a) Mathematical curriculum of Montenegro used for VII grade of primary school, b) Mathematical curriculum of Serbia which is used for VI grade of primary school, c) Mathematical curriculum of Bosnia and Herzegovina used for VII grade of primary school, d) Mathematical curriculum of Croatia used VI grade of primary school. I note that these countries were once part of Yugoslavia and that they are similar in many ways and have a similar mentality in many spheres of life, which is the case with education. Since they are related and linguistically, it is easiest to compare the above countries. Each country tries its best to come up with a quality curriculum by comparing its curriculum with other countries. Which means the goal is to get the best possible education system. Since I am from Montenegro, my main goal is to find the best possible education system for my country by comparing it with the former Yugoslav countries. The result is clear and stated in the paper, in short, I can say that the results show that we have a random curriculum and that the purpose is to improve it and fit it with modern teaching and applying what will create interest and desire to learn. The conclusion is that we need to work on education, the quality of the education system, teaching staff and the use of teaching aids to include all aspects of life in the teaching process.&#x0D; The collected data were analyzed relatively using document analysis as a qualitative method of analysis.

Divergence between the Economies of the (Former) Yugoslav Republics: Is It Possible to Change Direction?

ABSTRACT This papers investigates the structural components that determine conditional convergence and the reciprocal relationship between these components and income in the (former) Yugoslav countries. Applying an ARDL model, we found that, in the long run, capital stock growth and R&D expenditures are positively dependent on GDP per capita growth, but R&D negatively depends on employment growth. R&D has an impact on GDP per capita growth in the long run, but not in the short run. Applying the OLS model, we estimated the significance of R&D and tertiary education outcomes on output growth and found it to be significant and positive. We found that convergence is a bidirectional process.

Fifty years of the Centre for Balkan Studies of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Balkanology has long tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Beginnings and development of balkanology are closely linked to the strong wave of Europeanization and modernization of the entire life that flooded this area with the arrival of Austro-Hungarian rule in the late 19th century. Institute for Balkan research founded already in 1904 by the visionary Karl Patschis the first institution of this kind in Southeast Europe. Although it was not long-lived, the activity of the Institute, in particular continuous activity of its parent organization, the National Museum, have greatly contributed that Sarajevo became an important centre of new research ideas and aspirations in the region. The emergence of the Centre for Balkan Studies of theAcademy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be considered in this context. The establishment of this institution in 1963 was a major innovation in the field of balkanology, but this certainly would not have happened if there was not a long and valuable experience from the previous period. The Centre for Balkan Studies from the beginningconceived as an interdisciplinary institution that deals with the study and presentation of the cultural history of the Balkans, from prehistory to the modern age. The Centre’s full organizational structure consists of a working core in the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specialists from the balkanology disciplines – director and regular members,leading scientists in the domain of archaeology, history, linguistics, ethnology and anthropology, from different institutions of former Yugoslavia, Balkans and Europe. Thanks to this organization Centre was able to activate eminent associates not only in the local context, but also to a far wider area. Scientific programs are designed and carried out in cooperation of the working core and the members, which ensures systematic interdisciplinary communication and reaches a high level and broad scope of scientific work. The main activity of the Centre is carried out within the scientific research projects that involvefield research, creating the documentation’s centres, organization of scientific meetings and publications that present results of those activities to scientific and wider public. So far, six extensive field research in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia were conducted, 17 thematic meetings and conferences were held, 41 volume of Godišnjak with 559 articles and contributions,24 special editions and monographs, and 5-volume edition Prehistory of Yugoslav Countries were published, while Spiritual culture Illyrians cartulary was created and prepared for digitalization. About these activities will be further discussed in the entitled article.

Changing Memoryscapes in post- Yugoslav Countries: Social (Re)construction of Places of Memory

Changing Memoryscapes in post- Yugoslav Countries: Social (Re)construction of Places of Memory

War Song in a Service of Ideology. Comparative Essay on the Example of Yugoslav and Ukrainian-Russian Conflicts

Both the official army music and combatants’ informal folk songs have always played a noteworthy role in their respective societies regardless whether this music was created as means of actual propaganda or subsequently as part of reinvented commemorative culture. This article focuses on comparison of the two most recent European armed conflicts, namely 1) the ethnically motivated conflicts in former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 1995/1999, and 2) the interethnic violence followed by Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014; the Russo-Ukrainian conflict has not yet been settled and still threatens to escalate. Building on wide range of primary and secondary sources (mainly of Western, Central and South-Eastern European provenience) that has been ignored by a regional scholarship, the paper seeks to provide a contextual background behind the war songs and to compare their prevalent patterns and typology of their inner dynamics and transformations. This paper will not inquire into international, economical or military implications of the aforementioned armed conflicts; it will focus specifically on textual and contextual analysis of those songs. Study brings completely new insights on phenomenon of war songs in East European and former Yugoslav environment and brings much-needed light on the intertwined social, cultural and identity relations that can be established between the former Yugoslav and post-Soviet countries. This topic is very important since state doctrine, national narratives, historical memory affect current and also future development of both regions what is clearly visible on elaborated material.

What Drives Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions and Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment Capital Flows? Reconsideration in the Case of the Selected Former Yugoslav Countries

Bearing in mind the different nature and the impact of various types of foreign direct investments (FDI) on the one hand, and the specific macroeconomic environment in the post-socialist countries on the other hand, in this paper we reexamine the selected macroeconomic factors that affect the two types of FDI inflows (cross-border mergers and acquisitions and greenfield FDI) in four countries of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The study employs the balanced panel data framework and covers twelve-year period (2006-2017). Having performed the Hausman test, we use the random effect model and provide evidence that: (1) the key FDI macroeconomic determinants in stable business conditions, examined in numerous research studies, can have a different impact on FDI in times characterized by unstability and financial crisis, (2) some determinants of FDI inflows have different importance and direction in the case of cross-border M&amp;A and greenfield FDI. Our findings are relevant for policymakers who should reconsider the key factors that fuel the FDI inflows towards their developing economies.

“Satisfied Life Years” in the former Yugoslav countries

“Satisfied Life Years” in the former Yugoslav countries

FDI Time Series Forecasts: Evidence from Emerging Markets

Research Question: This paper investigates the trend and flow of foreign direct investments (FDI) in emerging markets, with the focus on FDI in Serbia in comparison with akin countries from the region. Motivation: FDI is an important factor of growth and prosperity in developing countries. It largely influences trade, productivity, and economic development of a receiving country. Based on UNCTAD’s World Investment Report of 2019, the share of global FDI in developing countries was 54 per cent, which was a record. Recently, Serbia has been recognized as one of the most popular destinations for FDI in Southeastern Europe. This motivated us to analyze the chances and possibilities of enlargement of FDI in Serbia, as well in other Balkan countries. Idea: The main idea of the paper is to analyze and estimate time series of FDI net inflows for Serbia. We strive to investigate whether FDI demonstrates the durable growth in the future period of time. Furthermore, we compare the state of Serbian FDI with the former Yugoslav countries, in search for disparities or similarities. Data: We observed the FDI net inflows that are measured in current US dollars, while the data were retrieved from the World Bank database. The earliest available time point is 1992, while the latest available year of observation is 2018. Tools: We estimated the FDI net flow time series using a list of suitable ARIMA models, and we have chosen the best model fit among them using AIC and BIC criteria. Findings: We have found that Serbia and North Macedonia show a mild growth in future investments. A significant percentage of the cumulative FDI inflows from EU companies have been invested precisely in Serbia, while in North Macedonia, fostering FDI has been promoted as one of the main instruments for employment and economic development. Oher Yugoslav countries tend to stagnate in the future period, which is in literature called a negative ‘Western Balkans’ effect on FDI. Contribution: Findings of the mild growth in FDI inflows in Serbia and North Macedonia contribute to the policy of attracting the FDI inflows in the countries of Southeastern Europe.

Perceptions of the fairness of income distribution in Serbia: A comparative perspective

The paper examines perceptions of the fairness of income distribution in Serbia from a comparative perspective. The analysis is based on data collected under Round 9 of the European Social Survey in 2018/2019. Perceptions of the fairness of personal income in Serbia are compared with those from three post- Yugoslav countries (Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia) and three developed capitalist countries (Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom). The research findings indicate that the vast majority of Serbian citizens perceive their personal income (gross and net pay, pensions and social benefits) as being unfairly low. From a comparative perspective, it is noticeable that the perceived fairness of income distribution is influenced by a contextual variable that combines the effects of economic development, degree of income inequality and path dependency. Income from work (gross and net pay) is more often perceived as unfairly low in the post-Yugoslav countries of the Western Balkans (Serbia and Montenegro) than in the post-Yugoslav countries that are members of the European Union (Croatia and Slovenia). When it comes to perceptions of the fairness of pensions and social benefits, the two groups of the post-Yugoslav countries do not differ from each other. All types of income are more likely to be perceived as unfairly low in the Western Balkan states than in the developed capitalist countries.

On Occasion of the 12th “Days of AMNuBiH 2021” and “SWEP 2021” Conferences, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

On Occasion of the 12th “Days of AMNuBiH 2021” and “SWEP 2021” Conferences, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina