Yugo-nostalgia

Yugoslav flag during a carnival in Ptuj, Slovenia, in 2013
Yugoslav flag in a street in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 2009

Yugo-nostalgia (Serbo-Croatian: jugonostalgija/југоносталгија, Slovene: jugonostalgija, Macedonian: југоносталгија) is a little-studied psychological and cultural phenomenon occurring among citizens of the former Yugoslav republics – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. While its anthropological and sociological aspects have not been clearly recognized, the term, and the corresponding epithet "Yugo-nostalgic", is commonly used by the people in the region in two distinct ways: as a positive personal descriptive, and as a derogatory label.[1]

Present cultural and economic manifestations of Yugo-nostalgia include music groups with Yugoslav or Titoist retro iconography, art works, films, theater performances, and many organized, themed tours of the main cities of the former Yugoslav republics. The notion of Yugo-nostalgia should not be confused with Yugoslavism which is the ideology behind the unity of South Slavic nations. The concepts may go hand in hand but Yugo-nostalgia celebrates the pre-1991 period whereas Yugoslavism and Yugoslav reunification (as a branch of Pan-Slavism) are an ongoing mindset just as likely to appeal to persons born after the breakup of Yugoslavia that feel their national interests may be best served by unification.

Positive sense

T-shirts in Tito's birthplace Kumrovec, Croatia, in 2012

In its positive sense, Yugo-nostalgia refers to a nostalgic emotional attachment to both subjective and objectively desirable aspects of the SFRY. These are described as one or more of: economic security, sense of solidarity, socialist ideology, multiculturalism, internationalism and non-alignment, history, customs and traditions, and more rewarding way of life.[2] As Halligan argues, such nostalgia effectively "reclaims" pre-1989 cultural artefacts, even propaganda films. These positive facets, however, are opposed to the perceived faults of the successor countries, many of which are still burdened by the consequences of the Yugoslav wars and are in various stages of economic and political transition. The faults are variously identified as parochialism, jingoism, corruption in politics and business, the disappearance of the social safety net, economic hardship, income inequities, higher crime rates, as well as a general disarray in administrative and other state institutions.[1]

Negative sense

In the negative sense, the epithet has been used by the supporters of the new post-dissolution regimes to portray their critics as anachronistic, unrealistic, unpatriotic, and potential traitors. In particular, during and after the Yugoslav wars, the adjective has been used by state officials and media of some successor countries to deflect criticism and discredit certain avenues of political debate. In fact, it is likely that the term Yugo-nostalgic was originally coined precisely for this purpose, appearing as a politically motivated pejorative label in government-controlled media, for example in Croatia, very soon after the breakup of the SFRY.[3]

According to Dubravka Ugrešić the term Yugo-nostalagic is used to discredit a person as a public enemy and a "traitor".[4][5]

Decline and rise of Yugoslavism

At the breakup of SFRY, the idea of Yugoslavism had lost popularity. Serbia and Montenegro continued a South Slavic union as Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from April 1992 to February 2003, then renamed the country with the federal republics' individual names. The number of declared Yugoslavs in the region reached an all-time low. The last census in Serbia showed approximately 80,000 Yugoslavs, but at this time the country was still known as such. The former country's main language, Serbo-Croatian, is no longer the official language of any of the former state's constituent republics. Few resources are published about the language, and it has no standardizing body. The .yu Internet domain name, which was popular among Yugo-nostalgic websites, was phased out in 2010.

Yugo-nostalgia is seeing a comeback in the former Yugoslav states.[6] In Vojvodina (north province of Serbia), one man has set up Yugoland, a place dedicated to Tito and Yugoslavia.[7][8] Citizens from former Yugoslavia have traveled great distances to celebrate the life of Tito and the country of Yugoslavia.[9]

Yugoslav reunification

Yugoslav reunification refers to an idea of reunification of the six republics. Despite a grass roots appeal across the former territory, its proponents are resigned to the notion that such a state is not likely to come into fruition since the successor regimes have firmly cemented their commitment to an independent existence and have thus established their institutions, and have chosen their directions.[10]

Yugo-nostalgia in contemporary culture

These programmes are pan-regional and comprise the participation of a minimum of three former Yugoslav republics and no states outside of the territory.

Reality TV

Celebrity shows
Singing contests

TV Series

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 Nicole Lindstrom, Review essay on: "Yugonostalgia: Restorative and Reflective Nostalgia in Former Yugoslavia."
  2. ↑ Brenda Luthar and Marusa Puznik, Remembering Utopia: The Culture of Everyday Life in Socialist Yugoslavia. Washington, DC: New Academia Publishing, 2010
  3. ↑ http://mams.rmit.edu.au/wcch64c2r40r.pdf
  4. ↑ Ugrešić, Dubravka (1998). The Culture of Lies: Antipolitical Essays. Pennsylvania State University Press. p. 231. ISBN 0-271-01847-X.
  5. ↑ Müller, Jan-Werner (2002). Memory and Power in Post-War Europe: Studies in the Presence of the Past. Cambridge University Press. p. 12. ISBN 0-521-00070-X.
  6. ↑ Telegraph (29 December 2007). "Many in Slovenia yearn for old Yugoslavia". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRASojQfNWI
  8. ↑ BBC (10 May 2004). "Nostalgic Yugoslav re-creates land of Tito". BBC News. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  9. ↑ BBC (23 May 2008). "Ex-Yugoslavs pine for unity and dignity". BBC News. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  10. ↑ Bilefsky, Dan (January 30, 2008). "Oh, Yugoslavia! How They Long for Your Firm Embrace". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2015.

External links

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