Carol Lilly
Historian and author of Death and Burial in Socialist Yugoslavia, interviewed about cemetery culture, politicization of burial sites, and ethnic conflict in the Balkans.
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Nov 21, 2025 • 58min
Carol Lilly, "Death and Burial in Socialist Yugoslavia: The Politicization of Cemeteries and Ethnic Conflict in the Balkans" (Bloomsbury, 2024).
Carol Lilly, a historian specializing in cemeteries and political culture in the former Yugoslavia, dives into the politicization of burial sites amidst ethnic conflict. She discusses how the communist regime weaponized cemeteries, leaving a legacy of ethno-religious segregation while introducing political symbolism into burial practices. Lilly also explores the coexistence of secular and religious burial traditions and how these dynamics evolved post-1989, reflecting broader cultural shifts in the Balkans.
Nov 21, 2025 • 58min
Carol Lilly, "Death and Burial in Socialist Yugoslavia: The Politicization of Cemeteries and Ethnic Conflict in the Balkans" (Bloomsbury, 2024).
Carol Lilly, a historian and author, explores the intricate dynamics of cemetery culture in the Balkans, particularly during and after the Yugoslav conflict. She highlights how burial sites became politicized and weaponized in nationalist movements, further entrenching ethnic divisions. Lilly shares her personal experiences with Yugoslav burial traditions and contrasts religious customs across communities. She reveals the impact of communist policies on grave markers, illustrating how these spaces transformed into battlegrounds for ideological expression and conflict.
