National Identity in Serbia: The Vojvodina and a Multi-Ethnic Community in the Balkans

Review

“Vassilis Petsinis gives a lucid introduction to the recent history and politics of the Vojvodina. His account is neatly structured, written in accessible language, and situated in an effective theoretical and comparative framework. It is an important contribution not only to South-East European studies but also to the developing literature on the relationship between national and regional identities in contemporary Europe.” ―Martyn Rady, Masaryk Professor of Central European History, UCL, UK

Product Description

The autonomous province of Vojvodina in Serbia is little-known in the English-speaking world, even though it is a territory of high significance for the development of Serbian national identity. Vojvodina's multi-ethnic composition and historical experience has also encouraged the formation of a distinct regional identity. This book analyses the evolution of Vojvodina's identity over time and the unique pattern of ethnic relations in the province. Although approximately 25 ethnic communities live in Vojvodina, it is by no means a divided society. Intercultural cohabitation has been a living reality in the province for centuries and this largely accounts for the lack of ethnic conflict. Vassilis Petsinis explores Vojvodina's intercultural society and shows how this has facilitated the introduction of flexible and regionalized legal models for the management of ethnic relations in Serbia since the 2000s. He also discusses recent developments in the region, most notably the arrival of refugees from Syria and Iraq, and measures the impact that these changes have had on social stability and inter-group relations in the province.

About the Author

Vassilis Petsinisis Marie Curie Experienced Researcher at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, University of Tartu. He is a political scientist with an expertise in European Politics and Ethnopolitics. He has conducted research and taught at universities and research institutes in Estonia (Tartu University), Germany (Herder Institut in Marburg), Denmark (Copenhagen University), Sweden (Lund University, Malmö University, Södertörns University and Uppsala University), Hungary (Collegium Budapest/Centre for Advanced Study), Slovakia (Comenius University in Bratislava), Romania (New Europe College) and Serbia (University of Novi Sad). He holds a PhD in Russian & East European Studies from the University of Birmingham.