Serbian National Identity and the Other Defining National Identity National identity refers to a sense of unity and camaraderie between members of a nation. This ‘sense of belonging’ (Connor, 1978) comes from historical memories, myths, and shared experiences from the nations culture. However, a nation cannot exist unless there are other nations, which help to define its national identity. This contrast between a nation and its others allows for a distinct identity to emerge, especially when the other poses a threat to the nation’s livelihood: referred to as a “significant other” (Triandafyllidou, 1998). Trauma and oppression from significant others create shared experiences and bonds which can robustly shape a nations identity (Mckernan, 2021). Such is the case for Serbia, which has endured centuries of oppression and regime changes and sits in one of the most ethnically complex regions of the world. Serbia’s history and myths, Orthodox tradition, and significant ot...
The Nation on Stage: Eurovision and Serbian Identity A Brief on Serbian National Identity In my last blog post, I explored and defined Serbian national identity. Summarizing my findings, historic myths, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), and significant others are the primary catalysts for Serbian national identity. Serbia’s frequent regime changes have meant that its history and its Others produce a sense of camaraderie and belonging for its citizens, which define national identity as a term (Connor, 1978). The increasing presence of the SOC in Serbian politics since the 1990s, as well as the large following it has amongst Serbian people, is also crucial in this sense of belonging (Morozova et. al., 2022). However, another key component of Serbian national identity I failed to mention in my previous blog post is their language. Serbia uses the Cyrillic alphabet, developed for Orthodox Slavic-speaking people. This connection to the SOC, along with the language’s difference from ot...
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