Papers by Nebojsa Cagorovic
Politicization of Religion, the Power of State, Nation, and Faith, 2014
Orthodox churches in central, eastern, and Southeastern Europe have been intimately connected wit... more Orthodox churches in central, eastern, and Southeastern Europe have been intimately connected with the region’s dominant post-communist ideology (nationalism), and have actively engaged in national politics.1 The key to this politicoreligious character is the structural organization of Orthodox churches, which render it possible that a “national” church with specific national characteristics can develop with relative autonomy. With no centralized structure within Orthodoxy, churches become a symbol of the national being, and, thereby, rather politicized. In the Balkans, or Southeast Europe, Orthodox churches have, in some instances, supported the politics of intolerance and hate on occasion, explicitly aligned themselves to nationalist political parties or governments that have sought to create ethnically homogenous states.2 However, Orthodox churches have often been burdened by internal splits and competition from “breakaway” factions. Perhaps, one of the most striking examples is the case of the Orthodox Church conflict in Montenegro. There, the Serbian Orthodox Church (Srpska pravoslavna crkva—SPC)3 have been one of the key instruments used to maintain the Serb identity of the Montenegrins, firmly supporting the narrative that Montenegro is the “second Serb state” and the “Serbian Sparta.”
… umjetnostHrvatski časopis za etnologiju i …, 2006
This article looks at the discourse about Montenegrin "personality and culture" (Dinko ... more This article looks at the discourse about Montenegrin "personality and culture" (Dinko Tomaić) in the period between the early nineteenth century and the loss of an independent state in 1918. After years of war which has divided Montenegrins from some of their ...
Traditiones, 2018
This article brings overview of the First World War monuments in Montenegro. Unlike in other alli... more This article brings overview of the First World War monuments in Montenegro. Unlike in other allied nations, there are only a few First World War monuments in Montenegro. Although Montenegro fought with the allies, it lost the peace; Montenegro was stripped of its sovereignty by Serbian troops in 1918. After the First World War, the storyline becomes about the "unification" of Montenegro into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes and then its submersion into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Nationhood and Politicization of History in School Textbooks, 2020
This paper chronicles the changes in Montenegrin history textbooks from official Marxist ideology... more This paper chronicles the changes in Montenegrin history textbooks from official Marxist ideology to the adoption of Council of Europe recommendations. Until 2001, all Montenegrin history textbooks were produced in Belgrade and reflected Belgrade’s view on world history and Montenegrin national history. With emancipation from Belgrade politics and after a debate on textbooks organized by the NGO community, Montenegro took new course in developing educational curriculum. It was only after 2000 that textbooks included content from national history to support the development of a distinct Montenegrin identity and conscious belonging to the Montenegrin state. Students are now introduced to a variety of historical sources and informed of the need to critically analyze them. They are encouraged to introduce themselves to other cultures and to a wider world view to limit xenophobia, prejudice, and nationalistic ideals. Research has found that in elementary and secondary-school textbooks, however, Montenegro’s contemporary history and its role in the wars on the territory of former Yugoslavia are still inadequately represented.
History, 2012
This is an article about the complex role played by the concept of 'anti-fascism' in the emergenc... more This is an article about the complex role played by the concept of 'anti-fascism' in the emergence of modern Montenegrin identity. The author shows how anti-fascism becomes 'a label of convenience' which has been used and abused by politicians of all sides in the last twenty years. The article draws attention to the way in which anti-fascist rhetoric was continually redefined and exploited by those in power in Montenegro to garner approval for a series of changing and frequently contradictory approaches and policies.
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Papers by Nebojsa Cagorovic