Original scientific paper
A Panopticum of Migration: Croats, the Croatian Area, Europe
Emil Heršak
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper is intended to provide a general overview of the migration past, and partly also of the ethnic past, of Croats and of the Croatian area from the earliest times to the present. The notion “Croatian area”, as used in the paper, is not political, i.e. it also includes neighbouring lands outside the borders of Croatia (mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina), in which Croats have lived for centuries (either as a local majority, or as a relative minority). It is practically impossible to treat the given theme without such an extension of the field of examination. The frame of reference for external migration is mainly limited to Europe, although the author also touches upon overseas migration. Apart from the introduction and the list of sources, the paper contains seven main parts: “Beginnings” (notes on some migration phenomena in the Croatian area during prehistoric times and antiquity), “the Middle Ages”, “the Ottoman period”, “Migration during Austria-Hungary”, “the First Part of the 20th Century”, the period “From World War II to the Break-Up of Yugoslavia”, and “New Trends”. In discussing the Middle Ages, the author also presents some theories on the origins of the first Croats (Proto-Croats). Later, he gives some examples from this time, including the migration experiences of individuals, all of which relates to the general context of Mediaeval Europe. It is argued that the beginning of stronger expansion of Vlachs in Croatian lands could be (partially) linked to the effects of the mid-14th century “Black Death”. Migrations of Vlachs are further treated in the section dealing with the Ottoman period. According to the author, the formation of a new socio-cultural framework, which could be denoted as “Balkan”, began at this time. The events during the expansion and withdrawal of the Ottomans are connected to the migration of Croats across the Adriatic, to Burgenland and lands further north, to the middle Danube regions, as they are also tied to the formation of the Serbian diaspora north and west of Serbia and to the migrations of South-Slav Muslims. The next four sections of the paper deal with migrations of Croats and other relevant groups in the specific and often difficult political and economic conditions of the 19th and 20th centuries. The paper concludes with a brief comment on the migration perspective of newly independent Croatia. According to the author, the lifting of political burdens and the establishment of relations between Croatia and diverse Croat groups abroad has opened up many possibilities for the full development of the country, although the present war has brought about mass movements of expellees and refugees in and to Croatia which most certainly shall have an effect on the future migration picture of Croatia and of its nearest vicinity.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
127257
URI
Publication date:
30.12.1993.
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