Memory Politics and Populism in Southeastern Europe

Description

This book explores the politics of memory in Southeastern Europe in the context of rising populisms and their hegemonic grip on official memory and politics. It speaks to the increased political, media and academic attention paid to the rise of discontent, frustration and cultural resistance from below across the European continent and the world. In order to demonstrate the complexities of these processes, the volume transcends disciplinary boundaries to explore memory politics, examining the interconnections between memory and populism. It shows how memory politics has become one of the most important fields of symbolic struggle in the contemporary process of "meaning-making," providing space for actors, movements and other mnemonic entrepreneurs who challenge and point to incoherencies in the official narratives of memory and forgetting. Charting the contemporary rise of populist movements, the volume will be of particular interest to regional specialists in Southeastern Europe, Balkan and postcommunist studies, as well as researchers, activists, policy-makers and politicians at the national and EU levels and academics in the fields of political science, sociology, history, cultural heritage and management, conflict and peace studies. Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Figures Contributors Editorial Preface Acknowledgments 1 Introduction: Memory Politics and Populism in Southeastern Europe – Toward An Ethnographic Understanding of Enmity Bibliography 2 (Not) Remembering a Populist Event: The Serbian Antibureaucratic Revolution (1988–1989) Introduction The Context of the Antibureaucratic Revolution The People Versus the Bureaucracy (Not) Remembering 1988–1989 Conclusion Notes Bibliography 3 The Modernist Abject: Ruins of Socialism, Reconstruction and Populist Politics in Belgrade and Sarajevo Introduction Reconstructing Belgrade’s Socialist Landmarks: From “Euro-Repair” to Enduring Ruins Disdained Ruins of Socialism Reconstructing Landmarks in Sarajevo: Selecting Convenient Pasts Reflecting on the Modernist Abject and Populism Conclusion Notes Bibliography 4 Whose is Herceg Kosača?: Populist Memory Politics of Constructing “Historical People” in Bosnia and Herzegovina Introduction The Intriguing Case of Herceg Kosača Croatization of the Bosnian Middle Ages Bosniak National Romanticism Serbs All and Everywhere Conclusion: Critical Contemplations Around Herceg Kosača Notes Bibliography 5 Of (anti)fascists and (anti)communists: Constructing the People and Its Enemies at the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar Introduction The Partisan Cemetery in Memory Labyrinths of postsocialist Mostar HDZ BiH: the Memory of (anti)Yugo-Communism SDP: Memories of Multiethnic Antifascism SDA: Tension-Ridden Memory of Antifascist Nationalism Instead of a Conclusion Notes Bibliography 6 Populism Versus Working-Class Culture in the Memory Politics of Korcanica Memorial Zone Introduction Theoretical Framework Methodology Before Populists: Monument Construction and Commemorations in Socialism The Postsocialist Apocalypse and the Rituals in No Man’s Land Understanding Antifascist Places of Memory After Socialism Notes Bibliography 7 The “War for Peace”: Commemoration of the Bombing of Dubrovnik in Montenegro Introduction Montenegro as An Actor in the 1990s Wars in Yugoslavia – the “War for Peace” From Participation to Memory – Memory Politics After the “War for Peace” The Apology to Croatia in 2000 as a Critical Event Finding a New National Hero – the Decoration of Admiral Vladimir Barovic as a Critical Event New Memories for New Identities Conclusion: How Populist is Memory? Notes Bibliography 8 Contested Narratives of Bleiburg in the Context of WW II Remembrance in Croatia Introduction The Context of Bleiburg Memory Politics and Populism as a Discursive Style Methodological Approach Analysis of the Commemorative Speeches 2014–2019 The Framing of Bleiburg Historical Events The “Croatian Uniqueness” Frame “Bleiburg and the Global” Frame Framing of the Bleiburg Commemoration The “Duty to Remember” Frame “European Values” Frame Conclusion Notes Bibliography 9 Populism, Memory Politics and the Ustaša Movement 1945–2020 Introduction The First Wave: Yugoslav Memory Politics (1945–1980) The Second Wave (1980–1990) From Transnational Critique to National Mobilization The Third Wave: Warmongering (1990–1995) Fourth Wave: EU Accession (2000–2012) Fifth Wave (2012–2020): the Radical Right, Populism and memory Politics Notes Bibliography 10 Operation Museum: Memory Politics as “Populist Mobilization” in North Macedonia (2006–2011) Introduction Prehistory The Two Camps “Historic Reconciliation” Ilinden as a Reconciliatory Platform “Museumizing” 20th Century Macedonian Setting Up the New National Pantheon The Initial Rift The Compromises Conclusion: Full Circle Notes Bibliography 11 Integration Versus Identity: Memory Politics, Populism and the good Neighborliness Agreement Between North Macedonia ... Introduction The Interplay Between Memory Activism and Populism: Theoretical Considerations Political Context and Main Facts Regarding the Agreement The Macedonian Problems Macedonian Antifascism Against the Agreement (the Left-Right Coalition) The Resistance as Populism: An Analysis Conclusion Notes Bibliography 12 Lukov March as a “Template of Possibility” for Historical Revisionism: Memory, History and Populism in post-1989 Bulgaria Introduction Memory and Politics in Bulgaria Since 1989 Populism Enters the Stage: Bulgaria’s Populist Waves After 2001 “Free, Social, National” – Lukov March Over the Years National Populists, Memory and Historical Revisionism Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index