Politicization of Religion, the Power of Symbolism

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Introduction: The Power of Symbolism

   • Gorana Ognjenović, Jasna Jozelić

   Pages 1-5

3. Quo Vadis Vlachs? Project Čarnojević into Twenty-First Century

   • Gorana Ognjenović

   Pages 7-26

4. Ethno-religious Mimicry in the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina

   • Marjan Smrke

   Pages 27-43

5. Religious Symbolism and Mythology in Sexual Violence and Rape during the Balkan Conflict, 1992–1995

   • Nena Močnik

   Pages 45-66

6. The Catholic Pledge in the Croatian Identity

   • Frano Prcela

   Pages 67-92

7. Political Control and Religious Life at Narona: A Case Study from Antiquity

   • Adam Lindhagen

   Pages 93-104

8. Three Receptions of Bosnian Identity as Reflected in Religious Architecture

   • Amra Hadžimuhamedović

   Pages 105-158

9. Kosovo as Serbia’s Sacred Space: Governmentality, Pastoral Power, and Sacralization of Territories

   • Filip Ejdus, Jelena Subotić

   Pages 159-184

10. Nation, Religion, and Gender

    • Zilka Spahić Šiljak

    Pages 185-210

11. Conclusion: Symbolism

    • Gorana Ognjenović, Jasna Jozelić

    Pages 211-212

12. Back Matter

    Pages 213-223

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This book examines the role religion played in the dismantling of Yugoslavia; addressing practical concerns of inter-ethnic fighting, religiously-motivated warfare, and the role religion played within the dissolution of the nation.

• Religion
• symbolism
• transition
• politicization of religion
• politicization of history
• South East Europe
• nation
• state
• faith
• Tito
• Yugoslavia
• genocide
• war and sexual violence
• national heritage
• Catholic Church
• Orthodox Church
• Byzantine
• Balkan
• nationalism
• schovinism
• identity
• religion
• sociology
• violence

“It makes an important contribution to scholarship on the religious-political aspects of the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s and their aftermath. The book can be useful for anyone wishing to better understand the intersection of religion and identity politics in the region. Even those already familiar with the countries and the issues discussed can gain further valuable insight from the articles that present in-depth exploration and case studies.” (Angela Ilić, Southeastern Europe, Vol. 41 (3), 2017)

"A sobering, enlightening and eye opening account on what has happened and may happen again if we persist in our refusal to see it for what it was. A topical study of a burning issue. A must read." - Zygmunt Bauman, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, The Bauman Institute, University of Leeds, UK, author of Modernity and Holocaust (1989) and Liquid Modernity (2008)

"This unique collection discusses the politicisation of religion after the collapse of a state of diverse ethnicities and religions. It shows that the 1990s wars in the former Yugoslavia were not time warped projects of ethnic nation-state building fed by religious symbolism, but rather pointed towards 21st century conflicts where secular space is being challenged and institutionalized religion and religious symbolism feed competing state projects and popular antagonisms. This is, indeed, a timely volume." - Tone Bringa, University of Bergen, Norway, Author of Being Muslim the Bosnian Way (1995)

Keith Tester, University of Hull, UK Gorana Ognjenovi?, University of Oslo, Norway Jasna Jozeli?, University of Oslo, Norway Marjan Smrke, University in Ljubljana, Slovenia Nena Mo?nik, University in Ljubljana, Slovenia Frano Prcela, University of Münster Mainz & IMDC Berlin, Germany Adam Lindhagen, University of Stockholm, Sweden Amra Hadzimuhamedovi?, Commission to Preserve National Monuments, Bosnia-Herzegovina Filip Ejdus, University in Belgrade, Serbia Jelena Subotic Georgia State University in Atlanta, USA Zilka Spahi? Harvard Divinity School USA; IUS, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Policies and ethics