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๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Culture & Society

Balkan Stereotypes: Historian Distinguishes Fact from Myth

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Historian Oliver Jens Schmitt discusses persistent stereotypes about the Balkans, distinguishing between myth and reality.
  • He notes progress in societal development, particularly the rise of an internationally connected urban middle class, though governmental structures remain challenging.
  • Schmitt explains that ethnic nationalism persists partly due to fragile national identities and established narratives, often used to mask socio-economic problems.

Persistent stereotypes of the Balkans as a region defined by corruption, violence, and nationalism are being examined by historian Oliver Jens Schmitt, who differentiates between enduring myths and factual realities.

Progress has certainly been made, but it relates more to society than to government structures.

โ€” Oliver Jens SchmittSchmitt discusses the advancements in the Balkan region over the past 35 years.

Schmitt, a professor of Eastern European history at the University of Vienna and a leading expert on the region's social and cultural history, acknowledges that progress has been made over the past 35 years. He highlights the emergence of a civil, urban middle class across the region's states. This demographic is internationally networked, possesses significant experience living and working abroad, and is less tethered to local power centers, creating a historically novel "public sphere" or "counter-public sphere."

However, Schmitt points out that this burgeoning middle class has struggled to gain political power. He attributes this to the formation of entrenched alliances between police, security services, business elites, and the Orthodox Church in countries like Serbia and Romania after the fall of communism. These alliances are difficult to dismantle. Protest movements, he suggests, must evolve into political parties to effect change, but risk losing popular support if they become corrupt themselves.

They created a 'public sphere, or rather a counter-public sphere,' which historian Schmitt considers a historically new phenomenon.

โ€” Oliver Jens SchmittSchmitt describes the impact of the internationally networked middle class on public discourse in the region.

Regarding the enduring strength of ethnic nationalism, a characteristic of the Balkans since the 19th century, Schmitt explains that many states possess "fragile national identities." Nationalism is frequently employed to obscure pressing social and economic issues. Furthermore, over two centuries, strong structures have developed where numerous individuals benefit from perpetuating these national narratives, particularly within state institutions.

Many states have 'fragile national identities,' which is why nationalism is often used to cover up social and economic problems.

โ€” Oliver Jens SchmittSchmitt explains the reasons behind the continued strength of ethnic nationalism in the Balkans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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