In Search of Identity: Nationalism and Religion in Eastern Europe

摘要: At the beginning of 1990s an anecdote was very popular in Bulgaria: 'Someone asks radio Yerevan how many European states there will be year 2000. The answer is: eight, namely, United States Europe, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Montenegro.' We might also add former Soviet republics. anonymous author this has aptly expressed two simultaneous trends social-economic, political cultural processes Europe after Fall Berlin Wall: on one hand, striving for, concrete steps towards, further development supranational spaces entities at different levels, such as Union, Council Organization for Security Co-operation Europe; other renationalisation regionalisation, dissolution Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia. Unfortunately, disintegration reflects separatist nationalistic attitudes suppressed some decades under cover internationalist ideology practice, its extreme expressions were bloody events Nagorny Karabakh, which once again reminded us importance interethnic tolerance. One best television reports that I have seen war ended with revelation a Russian volunteer: 'There aren't any atheists trenches here!' had opportunity to see personally gaping wounds during my trip from Rijeka Dubrovnik April 1994, through conversations discussions people nationalities denominations feel subtle insidious bonds between their sense ethnic belonging intimate religiosity, so skilfully exploited by unscrupulous politicians military men. Orthodox Catholic faiths unalterable characteristics Serbian Croatian popUlation. This gave new sacred! dimension resentment hatred. Thus came idea, more emotionally than rationally, investigating relations alliances essential phenomena history humankind religion nationalism specific forms postcommunist societies. Because position witness participant hectic often surprising region, paper is far claiming give cool diagnoses or commit itself lofty prognoses. not only because character these historical makes ground claims fairly questionable. My primary aim understand explain better world am living in: typically behind academic concepts constructions concerning