Sociology and Space, No. 3, 1964.
Review article
KRBAVICA (Fragments from the Historio-sociologic Study of Lika's Village)
Nikola Rapajić
Abstract
sis of its socio-economic conditions throughout the history, from the beginning
of XVIII century to the present days. The village is situated at the karst field
in Lika (province of Croatia), 647 m above the sea level, in the mountmous
climate conditions; its arrable land is very small and covers only 13% of the
total agricultural soil surface. Tillage, livestock-breeding and work in the forest
are the main peasants' activities. In the past this region was first under the
Turkish rule, and after that it was a part of the Austrian military frontier. During
the last world war its economy was completely destroyed. With the pentration of
the commodity production and inovations family cooperatives and old traditions
started to diminish.
Up to 1914. about 300 people migrated, mostly to USA. They were all men in
the age of 18 to 40 years. There were two organized colonizations to Vojvodina
(1920—1925) and Slavonija (1945). The maximum number of population living in
the village during the last 83 years amounted to 1,448. During the last 23 years
the number of the population decreased for 72,5%. Out of that 14% were killed
during the World War II., 37% changed their accupation and do not live in the
village any more, 13,5% migrated to other regions of Yugoslavia, 8,0% went to
schools and did not return to the village. Now only 27,5% of the prewar population
live in the village.
According to author's, estimate, the main reasons for such intensive out
migration tendencies in the past were; 1) unfavourable agricultural conditions änd.
agrarian overpopulation 2) opposition to the house-cooperative s discipline, 3) strong inclination of getting rid of the military frontier obligations and 4) striving
for better living standard.
Birth rate decreases. In 1960 only 6 children were born, 1961 — 3 and in
1962 only one.
Taking into account all mentioned tendencies, the author comes to the
conclusion that this village in the near future will die out. At the same time
he suggests some measures which would be necessary to be undertaken in order
to stop the process of dying out not only of this village but also of many similar
ones in mountinous regions.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
121278
URI
Publication date:
7.1.1964.
Visits: 1.314 *