Abstract
In this article, we investigate the public memory of the First World War as written into the national histories of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia in the run-up to the centennial of the outbreak of the War. Assuming that public uses of history are influenced by demands in their present as well as commemorative traditions, we study the First World War in official and semi-official national narratives in the three states and in their Yugoslav predecessors. The main sources of our analyses are schoolbooks and popular history books, supplemented by history debates in the media. First World War memory is both shared and divided: Though a catastrophe everywhere, to Serbia it was a triumph on the allied side, whereas in Bosnia and Croatia it was mainly a state collapse. Yet, the War also provided the conditions for creation of the first Yugoslav state, and consequently war history was narrated within a Yugoslav context. In socialist Yugoslavia, the triumphant Serbian narrative was expanded to include the rest of Yugoslavia and a Marxist interpretation was added. After the fall of Yugoslavia, the Serbian history remains heroic, now with a strictly national focus, while different and
less prominent narratives are being created in Croatia and Bosnia.
less prominent narratives are being created in Croatia and Bosnia.
Bidragets oversatte titel | The First World War as memory in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia - from Yugoslav to national narratives |
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Originalsprog | Dansk |
Tidsskrift | Nordisk Oestforum |
Vol/bind | 28 |
Udgave nummer | 2 |
Sider (fra-til) | 99-118 |
Antal sider | 19 |
ISSN | 0801-7220 |
Status | Udgivet - 2014 |
Emneord
- Det Humanistiske Fakultet