Strategies of Symbolic Nation-building in South Eastern Europe by Kolstø Pål

Author:Kolstø, Pål
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)
Published: 2014-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

Symbolic Reconstruction of Physical Space

The symbolic reconstruction of physical space in Montenegro has not assumed the same dimensions as in some of the other post-Yugoslav states (see Risteski and Hysa in this volume; also Krasniqi in this volume). While the rationale for the somewhat lower degree of reconstruction of physical space in Montenegro after the Yugoslav breakup may be found in the continuation of the common state with Serbia, there were two further reasons why the Montenegrin elite has exercised caution in translating its nation-building project into palpable objects like buildings and monuments. In 1998, the ruling DPS committed to a multicultural political platform in order to attract the votes of non- Orthodox minorities, such as Bosniaks, Muslims and Croats (see Bieber 2003, Šištek and Dimitrovova 2003). The Western democratic states, which supported Montenegro’s ruling elite politically and financially, praised such an attitude on the part of Đukanović (see Albright 1999, ICG 2000), especially at a time when Milošević was engaged in waging the war in Kosovo. Moreover, the ruling DPS did not explicitly embrace the independence agenda until the fall of Milošević; and even then, it promoted a civic concept of the state. As a consequence, the reconstruction of physical space as a part of Montenegro’s ruling elite’s nation-building project has been modest. Yet, even the moderate changes in street names and the erection of monuments mark a symbolic departure from the symbolism of the former Yugoslavia, and – in particular – the common state with Serbia.

The first major change in the symbolism of space in Montenegro was made in April 1992, when the name of the capital of what was then the Republic of Montenegro was changed from Titograd to Podgorica. During the socialist period, the Montenegrin capital, along with several other cities across the former Yugoslavia, had honoured the federation leader. The change of name thus symbolized a move away from the Titoist legacy, at the time rejected by the DPS elite, which remained close to Milošević until 1997. During the years of the Yugoslav conflict (1991–5), no physical reconstruction took place in Podgorica. The appearance of the Montenegrin capital had been developed in line with socialist architecture because the city had been demolished during the Second World War. Many of the streets and institutions bore the names of Partisan heroes (Ulica Mitra Bakića [a street], Vrtić Ljubica Popović [a kindergarten], etc.) or symbols of the former Yugoslavia (Ulica Bratstva i Jedinstva [Brotherhood and unity Street], Put JNA [Road of the Yugoslav People’s Army]). Even today, the majority of Montenegro’s population, of all ethnic backgrounds, say that the names of streets with (former) Yugoslav names should not be changed, as shown in Figure 5.7.

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