Izvorni znanstveni članak
Some population and geographical characteristics of the northern-Dalmatian hinterland (communes of Benkovac, Drniš, Knin and Obrovac)
Ivica Nejašmić
Sažetak
The article treats the geographical and
demographic characteristics of the
norhern-Dalmatian hinterland in the light
of recent events, i.e. the armed rebellion
of part of the Serbian population and the
aggression against Croatia. Its main
purpose is to, on the basis of population
and geographical facts, try to answer the
question: Are there any justified reasons
for the possible secession of this region
from Croatia? In the first part of the
article, after defining the region, the
author gives a short reminder of the fact
that it was the heart and soul of medieval
Croatia. After the Turkish invasion the
original Croatian population perished or
fled into other regions, and the Turks
(and later the Venetians, too) settled a
new population there. The second part of
the article points to the great importance
of the northern-Dalmatian hinterland in
the present rail and road communications.
The third part treats the demographic and
settlement characteristics of the region in
which there is strong rural exodus and
depopulation. The fourth part describes
the ethnic composition of the region
which has a Serbian majority and a
significant Croatian minority (in 1880
there were 42.6% Croats and 56.6%
Serbs; in 1991 there were 35.6% Croats
and 62.0% Serbs). It was shown that
exodus and depopulation were stronger
among the Croatian then among the
Serbian population (this refers to the
region as a whole). Until the Second
World War the Croats were the majority
population in commune centres, and in
the last population census their
participation was more than halved (with
the exception of Drniš); especially
significant is the fact that since 1961 even
the absolute number of Croats in them
has been decreasing. In conclusion the
author states that there are no justified
reasons for the possible secession of the
area observed from Croatian state
territory. It is historic Croatian land that
today has a strategic communications
importance (its breaking away would
cause existential difficulties in Croatia’s
general and regional development). There
is no ethnic justification, either, since the
Croats are still a significant minority in
that region and the Serbs are not
threatened either by assimilation or by
emigration. The facts presented indicate
the opposite conclusion, i.e. that the
survivial of the Croatian population in
their own state is threatened.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
119746
URI
Datum izdavanja:
12.6.1992.
Posjeta: 1.715 *