Project Duration: 2024-2027
Donor: Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (Prisma)
Lead Partner: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory of the University of Belgrade
Partners: SASA Institute of Ethnography (Srđan Radović), Faculty of Political Science; University of Belgrade (Dušan Marković), Faculty of Law; Union University (Marko Božić, Srđan Milošević)
IFDT Research Team: Milivoj Bešlin, Adriana Zaharijević, Marija Mandić, Ivica Mladenović, Filip Balunović, Petar Žarković, Ivan Ejub Kostić, Balša Delibašić, Pavle Antonijević, Vukan Marković, Damir Zejnulahović i Miloš Janković.
What is IMAGINATION?
The project aims to explore the thesis regarding the existence of two competing approaches to the Serbian national identity during the Yugoslav period, in which the new socialist state attempted to oppose the traditional, ethno-religious concept of the Serbian nation with a different understanding of national identity that would fit into a broader, pluralistic concept of the new society and complex state. A specific goal of the project is to investigate whether and how the mentioned duality of identity has persisted into our contemporary times.
Where is the problem?
How is national identity viewed and defined? Is it a code we carry within ourselves because we were born in a certain place, speak a particular language, and share certain cultural symbols? Or is it something that evolves over time, something that is more or less successfully passed down through generations participating in its production? Our project will strive to confirm the latter thesis. We examine two models that existed side by side not so long ago. We will consider the period from World War II to the present to describe these models, point out the internal tension that existed among them, and, importantly, show how one of them became dominant. The thesis that national identity is not innate is important within the historiography that constitutes our disciplinary framework and beyond, as it shapes how we build what we call national identity today and in the future.
Our Theoretical Concept
Within our research, we will utilize Gramsci’s “cultural hegemony” theory, which examines how the dominant class establishes social consensus and imposes its ideological “common sense.” This theory will enable us to analyze interactions between the “political society” and the “civil society,” as well as the dynamics arising from the struggle for cultural domination. Bourdieu’s “theory of fields” will assist us in studying dynamics within different social fields and the struggle for legitimacy. Methodologically, we will combine quantitative and qualitative approaches. Statistical methods such as sorting, cross-sorting, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis will be used to measure and visualize the relationships between actors. A qualitative “socio-historical” approach will help us interpret statistical results by placing them in a broader social and historical context. Critical discourse analysis will be used to examine social actors and institutions and discursive practices that reveal power relations and (counter)hegemonic structures. Last but not least, we will conduct qualitative research interviews, a commonly used method for data collection in contemporary scientific research.
Contribution to International Science
The project on national identity undoubtedly holds great significance for Serbian science and the public. However, it also has clearly defined international implications. On the one hand, due to current global circumstances, the European paradigm of the post-national and post-heroic era seems to be fundamentally questioned. The question of national identity is gaining immense importance again, unfortunately, precisely through new armed conflicts. Reflecting on how to build a non-conflictual national identity and its perspectives thus becomes a highly urgent topic in the broad field of social sciences. On the other hand, in the current global division between the global North and global South, the European East remains hidden behind names that do not fit. More and more historians and social scientists in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe are turning to the recent history of their countries, rejected in the face of the rise of the transitional thesis of the “end of history,” seeking to understand their decidedly ambiguous present better. Our project productively combines both of these tendencies.
Broader Social Contribution in Serbia
The research addresses both historical aspects and contemporary implications of the Serbian national identity, offering perspectives for a better understanding of current political, social, and intellectual debates in Serbia. This can assist citizens in better comprehending current social and political dilemmas, such as relationships with neighboring countries, integration into the European Union, and internal political challenges. The research results can also provide a foundation for informed participation in public discussions and decision-making regarding national identity and identity politics in contemporary Serbia. Through the wider dissemination of project findings, including the publication of a book and participation in public debates, citizens will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with new knowledge and theories related to the Serbian national identity, potentially influencing the shaping of educational programs, public policies, and broader social awareness. Therefore, by understanding the past and its impact on the present, citizens can be better equipped to face the challenges of today, contributing to the construction of a more inclusive and diverse social and political environment in Serbia.