Review article
https://doi.org/10.21857/m16wjce3k9
Remembrance/Memory; Identity; Assimilation: The Czechs in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County
Dragutin Babić
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper analyses the empirical research (semi-structured interviews) in the settlements of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County (Ivanovo Selo, Treglava and Rastovac), conducted on a sample of the Czech national minority population. Ten members of the Czech national community were interviewed. The analysis of the interview has shown that the respondents are fairly well acquainted with the arrival of their predecessors in the second half of the 19th century to the territory of Croatia in general, and to the area of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County in particular. In the area of this County, the Czechs have in the course of time formed organised societies and associations with the aim of transferring, preserving and creating the national identity of their own community via folklore, school, libraries, cultural events and other activities both in institutions and in associations; this slows down the assimilation into the majority national community. Cultural remembrance additionally contributes to the preservation and transfer of the identity of this national minority. Furthermore, high-quality cooperation with the Czech state strongly influences the prevention of assimilation and all the activities that make the Czech national name recognised. Language is a major component of national identity of a national community at both the symbolic and the communicational levels. As regards the Czechs, apart from the sphere of socialisation (family, neighbours, friends), school education is of particular importance: members of this national minority are educated in the Czech language and thereby introduced to the Czech culture, which strengthens the sense of belonging to the Czech nation and slows down assimilation.
Keywords
assimilation; Bjelovar-Bilogora County; Czechs; identity; remembrance; memory
Hrčak ID:
269663
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2021.
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