The Empire Never Ended 22: The Croatian National Project: From Illyrians to Not-Serbs
May 24, 2021
In this discussion, Kemal Madžerak, an expert on the Croatian national project, unpacks the evolution of Croatian identity from the Illyrian movement to the 20th century. He navigates the linguistic battles between Serbs and Croats, highlighting key figures like Ljudevit Gaj and Ante Starčević. The impact of Hungarianization is explored, along with the cultural significance of Dubrovnik and Bosnia. Madžerak also critiques the legacies of nationalist leaders and addresses the complexities of identity in a historically tumultuous region.
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Linguistic Roots of Nationhood
- National identity in 19th century Balkans was fluid and based largely on language dialects rather than strict ethnic boundaries.
- Linguists like Vuk Karadžić and Ljudevit Gaj tried to define Serbs and Croats linguistically, showing the constructed nature of these identities.
Illyrian Movement's Unity Vision
- The Illyrian movement aimed to unify South Slavs through a common cultural and linguistic identity.
- It used metaphors like a lyre needing tuning to express the unity and harmony they envisioned for the region.
Confused National Identities
- National identity was often seen as confused or artificial by early nationalists due to overlapping languages and religious affiliations.
- Vuk Karadžić viewed people identifying as Croats or Serbs in some areas as misunderstandings of true nationhood.
