Adriano Milovan, Translated by Damir O. Rados
THE LIMITS OF “SERBIAN WORLD”
Dismantling the Vučić-Milošević conception of Greater Serbia
According to the Bulgarian journalist, Croatia is also under attack
Decades after the war in Croatia and Bosnia/Hercegovina, the political followers of Slobodan Milošević are still very much alive, and opportunely hiding behind the mask of the so called “european integrations”. The idea, which in relatively distant past was known as “Greater Serbia” has been only repackaged into a new strategy under the name “Serbian world”.
This theme is covered by a new documentary of the independent Bulgarian journalist agency BGNES, under the title “Crawling boundaries of “Serbian world”. The author of the documentary film Dimitar Ruskov dismantles the conception of “Serbian world” as “a doctrine of destabilization of neighboring countries”, although that premise is formally announced in Serbia as an idea of cultural, and political unification of “Serbian lands”.
“Precisely cultivated and structured state strategy”
What does it mean precisely “Serbian world”? To many this might sound as simple nationalistic slogan; however, the phrase at its core refers to a precisely structured state strategy. Its foundations were established in 2010 through, apparently innocent and unrelated investments in Serbian schools and churches in their diaspora. However, the true face of this ideology became evident in 2020 as manifested by then minister Alaksandar Vulin’s crystal clear formulation: ”Serbs must become one political nation and Alexander Vučić is president of all Serbs, regardless of where they live or reside”.
These are the conclusions of a Bulgarian journalist following his contacts with journalists from Serbia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Croatia, and other colleagues representing world journalist circles.
At its core “Belgrade relies on a network of loyal politicians at large, the influence of the Serbian orthodox church and simple media propaganda. Thus, it insures for itself an informal right to veto over decisions of its neighbors at the same time slowing down their efforts on the path to euro-integrations.
Light version of concept of Great Serbia
The idea of (Serb world) is promoted under a variety of slogans of different shades; however, its essence is that Alexander Vučić and his regime have influence over all Serbs in the region and the surrounding neighboring nations as well”. This is a light version of Great Serbia which Slobodan Milošević attempted to force by means of war- literally, robbing the territories of other countries to create a greater state. With Vučić, the situation is different- he, in fact, recognizes the territorial integrity of the neighboring countries, but not their sovereignty. The entire idea is based on the premise that ethnic identity takes precedence to civil identity and belonging to a specific nation. Thus, if a person is by nationality Srb, following the identical logic, he must be loyal to Vučić, not for example to Jakov Milatović if the issue involves a citizen from Montenegro” as explained by the Serbian journalist Tomislav Marković.
The preponderant majority of the participants of this original documentary analysis emphasize that the concept of “Greater Serbia” is still alive and present in the activities of Serbian political, cultural and scientific elites. Truly enough, this concept promptly faded away with Milošević’s loss of war in the 1995’s, but it did not disappear as a goal which needs to be attained by new forms and new means, just waiting for a new historic opportunity.
The most threatened countries
The following countries are listed as the most threatened by the project “Serbian world”: Bosnia/Hercegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo. Approximately half of the territory of BiH is occupied by Republika Srpska which is currently fairly widely considered as an “extension” of Serbia, west of Drina.
Montenegro on the other hand is facing an identity crisis as indicated by recent population census where one third of the registered voters declare themselves as ethnic Serbs.
Kosovo, on the other hand is not even recognized as an independent country by Belgrade; it is considered as a “temporarily occupied south Serbian region”.
Furthermore, the thought provoking “Serbian world”- it is warned in the
document- is not stopping at these levels. The influence of Belgrade is very strong in Northern Macedonia, a country itself torn apart by conflicts between the majority Macedonians and minority Albanians, in addition to other minorities. At the same time, Serbia is actively attempting to affirm its influence in Albania, effectively playing the conflict card between Albanian premier Edi Rama and Kosovo premier Albin Kurtija.
In focus: Croatia
A documentary points out that Croatia is very much in the focus of “Serbian world”; however, it is reported that the influence of Belgrade over Croatia is significantly smaller when compared to the rest of the south east European countries: Croatia is strongly integrated into EU and NATO. In addition, the documentary assesses that the Serbs in Croatia are not particularly inclined to accept Vučić and his politics or those who force the ideas of “Serbian world”. In fact, as reported by some documentary participants, some Croatian Serbs actually oppose there radical Belgrade philosophies.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
AS WE WITNESS THE STATEMENTS BY THE SERBIAN POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE PUPOVAC, THE ANTAGONISTIC CONTENT OF THE SERBIAN PRES IN CROATIA, THE OVERLY GENEROUS FINANCING OF SERBIAN “ CULTURAL” PROJECTS BY THE CROATIAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND CROATIAN TAXPAYERS, THE FINANCING AND CONSTRUCTION OF SERBIAN “CULTURAL” CENTERS IN CROATIA BY THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, BURNING OF FORESTS ON THE ADRIATIC COAST BY SERBS DURING THE TOURIST SEASON AND MUCH MORE…… IT IS A MANDATORY CONCLUSION THAT THE AUTHORS OF THE ABOVE DOCUMENTARY FAILED TO ACCURATELY ASSESS THE REAL SITUATION IN CROATIA, COINCIDENTALLY OR INTENTIONALLY? WHY?
BECAUSE NOT A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SERBIAN MINORITY IN CROATIA PUBLICALLY OPPOSED ALL THE MENTIONED TRUE “CULTURAL AND POLITICAL” ONGOING SERBIAN WORLD PRETENSIONS.
Imitation of “Russian world”
From a certain perspective it holds true that a “Serbian world” is an imitation of the concept of “Russian world”: the idea of “Great Serbia” came into existence in 1844 by means of a document “Načertanije” authored by Ilija Grašanin. In one form or another its concept was cultivated in selective political circles. However, as such approach has proven to be totally unrealistic, a new detailed narrative has been presented as a cultural initiative, when in reality, it is nothing more than the same old expansionist narrative, packaged differently.
It is, nevertheless, to be noted that the “Serbian world” and the “Russian world” are ruled by one essential premise: centralism, as emphasized by Serbian politician Nenad Čelak.
Despite a fact that the net influence of “Serbian world” in Croatia is minimized when compared to other neighboring nations, the concept itself is an object of substantial attention, as it deserves to be, reports Vanda Babić Galić, professor the The University of Zadar, Croatia.
“Serbian world”, for Croatia, is not an academic construct
“In Croatia, the concept of “Serbian world” is neither perceived as an academic construct nor as simple-hearted cultural platform, but as a political project with perennially known connotations. They go back to 1990 when we lived the excesses of “Serbian world” – the Grand-Serbian aggression- which certainly taught us many valuable lessons”, reports Babić Galić.
The document affirms that the sources of “Serbian world” politics have origins in
the 19 th century and that thereafter it attained its contemporary form in new politics of Serbia from 2012 and 2015 until today.
Is Belgrade still playing the Russian card?
The document participants warn that Milošević and his politics have been fully rehabilitated in today’s Serbia. Ample evidence emphasizes that during the 1990’s Vučić was Milošević’s minister of information, and that his incendiary speeches during the war against the Croatians and Bosniaks have not been forgotten.
Furthermore, some documented statements by the ministers from the current Serbian government are still incendiary in nature: Administration minister Snežana Paunović openly stated on television that, had she been in Milošević’s place in 1998, she would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo.
The participating document authors warn that countries surrounding Serbia are exposed to hybrid activities of Belgrade, always with a well-defined purpose to weaken the neighbors and to slow down their process of accession to EU. The open question remains on whether Belgrade is still playing the Russian card, that is, is Serbia Russia’s proxy on the Balkans?
The International community (as always) is silent
Despite the above described turbulent picture of western Balkans, the documentary concludes that Belgrade’s involvement in implementing of “Serbian world” project is fairly tightly tied up. Serbia is almost entirely surrounded by NATO member countries - outside NATO are only BiH and Kosovo. However, NATO presence is well established therein. Furthermore, all countries unanimously strive to formally join NATO where philosophy of non-expansionism is cultivated and well defined.
Despite all these positives comments, the documentary authors ask, why is the European union silent regarding these newest attempts of Serbian Hegemonism. Of cardinal importance to this same narrative is the constant negation of war crimes committed by the Serbs during 1990’s including the genocide in Srebrenica, and at the same time there is an ongoing open glorification of war criminals like Ratko Mladic who just died as a convicted criminal imprisoned in The Hague.
All the weight of the mentioned above is paired with perennial and exclusively soft institutional warnings!?
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