Essays
THE DIASPORA MYTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CROATIANHOOD AND SERBIANHOOD
Vjekoslav Perica
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
This essay comparatively analyzes post-Yugoslav ethnic nationalist movements
in Croatia and Serbia focusing on political uses of ethnic diasporas.
The author examines the role of ethnic diasporas in the reconstruction of nationhood
and legitimating new regimes; in new political discourses and also
in the new political competition including internal competition within political
arenas of the new nations, but also in the context of the rivalry between
Serb and Croat nationalisms which did not end with the ending of the wars of
Yugoslav succession. In addition, the author provides a brief genealogy of the
Diaspora myth and concludes that, like all myths utilized in politics, this myth
also entails contradictions that produce effects and outcomes which the initial
political benefactors from this myth could not incalculate or fully control and
eventually had to face certain undesirable consequences. Twenty years after
the collapse of Yugoslavia, the political uses of ethnic diasporas still can be
observed in the discourses and politics of ethnic nationalistic parties, although
it is also clear that the appeal of the myth is diminishing.
Keywords
ethnic nationalism; diaspora; collapse of Yugoslavia; Croatia; Serbia
Hrčak ID:
77804
URI
Publication date:
14.2.2012.
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