Historia Moderna Bosnia&Herzegovina

Visit of Džemal Bijedić to the People's Republic of China in 1975.

Sanja Radovic — 2024-12-02

In 1970, diplomatic relations between China and Yugoslavia were re-established following a ten-year period of interruption. In 1975, after five years, the extent of their bilateral collaboration remained significantly constrained due to enduring Chinese ideological objections to the Yugoslav system. The Chinese government exhibited a cautious approach toward fostering stronger relations with Yugoslavia, resulting in the inability to arrange President Tito's visit during Mao's tenure. Consequently, Djemal Bijedic's visit emerged as the most prominent state delegation from Yugoslavia to China before 1976. Furthermore, the visit of Bijedic was significant within the context of a pivotal global momentum. At the time, détente was at its peak, and the international community held a high regard for Yugoslavia's position. In 1975, Djemal Bijedić held meetings with Brezhnev, Ford, and Mao, making him a unique political figure globally. Concurrently, China sought to establish itself as a prominent global actor by employing strategies to reduce Soviet influence in several geographical areas, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia and the Balkans. The meeting between the two governments served as a step in the further progress of Sino-Yugoslav relations, breaking a prolonged period of inactivity and offering a valuable yet limited boost.

The activity of the commission of the charitable society 'Merhamet' in the area of Gračanica at the end of 1943 and the beginning of 1944.

Ajdin Muhedinovic — 2024-12-02

The activity of „Merhamet“ in the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Second World War had a role and significance in the area of Gračanica as well. The commission of „Merhamet“ in Gračanica, founded in the summer of 1943, in the first period of work already achieved significant results when working with the refugee population that was tremendously hit hard by the war casualties. According to the information provided in the work report, it is evident that the commission in Gračanica adhered to the work rules determined by “Merhamet's” headquarters, and that it focused primarily on gathering information and resources for the care of refugees. A big problem for the commission was the supply of clothing to the refugees, and the fact that there was no major famine shows that “Merhamet” in Gračanica managed to provide high-quality health care for the refugees in this period.

THE GREAT BATTLES OF 1943 ON THE YUGOSLAV FRONT IN POST-SOCIALIST TEXTBOOKS

Jovan Muhadinovic — 2024-12-02

The work is based on a case study in which we attempt to illustrate, through the given topic, the changes in content, narrative, and the amount of data in textbooks after the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The collapse of the state was accompanied by a change in the interpretation of official history as written in textbooks during the socialism time. There was a gradual modification of the themes related to the Second World War, which greatly enabled the new political elite across the former state to distance itself from the socialism from which it had emerged and, in this way, to better consolidate the foundations of its power.

PUBLIC HYSTERIA AGAINST HISTORY. THE GREAT BATTLES OF 1943 ON THE YUGOSLAV FRONT IN CROATIAN TEXTBOOKS DURING SOCIALISM AND POST-SOCIALISM

Marina Alia Jurisic — 2024-12-02

Since the battles of 1943 on the Yugoslav territory were of crucial importance for the liberation of the occupied territories, the main question of this paper is their presentation in Croatian history textbooks during socialism and post-socialism. While in socialist history textbooks battles were celebrated, even when it comes to the defeats such as the Battle of Sutjeska, in post-socialist history textbooks the importance of National Liberation Movement and great battles were downplayed, and the Independent State of Croatia began to be justified to some extent. Textbooks were very often in the service of spreading political propaganda, instigated by ruling politicians. That problem was especially noticeable in post-socialism as a result of the public hysteria against content in the socialist textbooks. By comparing and analyzing various textbooks and the political situation during the early 1990s, it is possible to get a glimpse on how this process unfolded, but also how the problem began to be solved at the beginning of the 21st century.

The Battles of 1943 in Montenegrin Socialist Textbooks

Vukadin Nisavic — 2024-12-02

This paper analyzes the narrative about the battles of Sutjeska and Neretva in Montenegrin elementary school textbooks from the socialist period. Textbooks for the eighth grade of elementary school from the years 1956, 1960, 1976, 1980, and 1991 were analyzed. In writing this paper, we started from the assumption that textbooks were used as means of indoctrination of students, with lessons about World War II being particularly suitable for propagating socialist ideals. Problematising this issue, we analyzed the language and images in the textbook, as well as the way in which the content of the textbook was used in a didactic sense. In addition, the paper also points out the change in the narrative in the textbook from 1991, which reflected changes in the political life of the SFRY.

Battles of Neretva and Sutjeska in Socialist and Post-Socialist History Textbooks - A Case Study of Serbia

Luka Savcic — 2024-12-02

The paper analyzes the changes in the narrative about the two most important battles of the Second World War on Yugoslav soil – the Battle of the Neretva and the Battle of Sutjeska in history textbooks for primary and secondary schools. Subject of analyzes are textbooks from the period of socialism, as well as from three phases of the post-socialist period – the time of Slobodan Milošević’s rule, the time of the democratic transition in the 2000s and the time of the liberalization of the textbook market after 2010. The following aspects of the narrative are analyzed: the space dedicated to the battles, the names of the battles, their character, good/bad guys, heroes and victims, and the national composition, and through the analysis, a conclusion is made about the changes in the politics of the history of different political regimes in Serbia.

JOSIP BROZ TITO AND PARTISAN STRUGGLES IN 1943. IN THE SLOVENIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL READING MATERIAL

Anton Arko — 2024-12-02

The paper deals with primary school reading materials from the 1st to the 4th grade, which were used during the socialist Yugoslavia in the Federal Republic of Slovenia. At the beginning, the historical circumstances and ideological guidelines for the reform of education are given, and further, the paper focuses on the depiction of Josip Broz - Tito and the partisan battles of 1943. Based on examples, the paper tries to highlight the evaluation of the content, the subjectivity of the authors and the naturalistic approach in depicting the brutality of war. It concludes with an analysis of the reviewed content.

Enumerating monuments to the NOB in Bosnia & Herzegovina: A brief comment

Andrew Lawler — 2024-12-02

This paper discusses the continued reference to a figure of “14,402” monuments and memorials to the People’s Liberation War (NOB) having been created across the territory of Yugoslavia by 1961 in relation three sources of figures on the numbers of monuments and memorials commemorating the People’s Liberation Struggle (NOB) on the territory of Bosnia & Herzegovina. The first is a survey undertaken between 1956 and 1958, the results of which were later reappraised and published along with those of other Yugoslav republics in 1961, where a total of 3,574 monuments and memorials were enumerated upon the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to the overall figure of 14,402. The second is a survey conducted between 1966 and 1973, with a summary of these results being published in 1981, showing a total of 2,049 monuments and memorials were documented. The third is data currently being compiled in the spomenicinob.info database. While at present this database holds details of slightly over 4,000 monuments and memorials to the NOB created during the period 1945–1992,[1] the data used here pertains exclusively to the two aforementioned surveys. Using this data, it is shown that the 3,574 figure from 1961 is a vast overstatement when discussing monuments created, and better describes places of memory than tangible monuments. Additionally, it is shown that, while the figure of 2,049 published in 1981 is generally supported by field research in the present day, it is still not possible to consider this figure as ‘precise’ due to a number of factors, including accidental omissions, the overlooking of new memorials created during the seven-year period in which the survey was undertaken, and the destruction and replacement of memorials as a result of external factors.

The paper concludes that the figure of 14,402 monuments having been made across Yugoslavia by 1961, with “almost three monuments or cemeteries [being created] every day for sixteen years” oft repeated in the literature is a gross over-estimate when discussing ‘monument making’.

HOW THE 'ORIENT EXPRESS' BYPASSED BOSNIA: SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ IN EUROPE AND THE BEGINNINGS OF RAILWAY TRANSPORT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Amira Bojadzija - Dan — 2024-12-02

This paper examines the historical development of the railway line intended to connect Istanbul and Vienna during the late 19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization and geopolitical shifts. By analyzing political ambitions, economic interests, and strategic considerations, the paper explores why, despite initial plans for the route to pass through Bosnia, the railway ultimately bypassed this Ottoman province. Utilizing contemporary accounts in the press and diplomatic correspondence, as well as cultural texts – novels, music and photographs – the study reveals the diplomatic tensions and international rivalries that shaped the final route of the Istanbul-Vienna railway.

UNPREDICTABLE PAST. SERBIAN HISTORY TEXTBOOKS 1913–2021.

Dubravka Stojanovic — 2024-12-02

The paper presents the conclusions based on the analysis of Serbian history textbooks in the period from 1913 to 2021. The analysis is presented on three levels: 1. factual and interpretive changes; 2. changes in identity politics; 3. changes in the philosophy of history. Although there have always been changes in "facts", the most important conclusion is that since the wars of the 1990s in Serbia, a substantial change has taken place in the identity model offered in schools, which is why the greatest attention has been devoted to this issue.

Serbo Rastoder, When People Ruined Their Time. Sahovići 1924. (Second Edition). Almanac – Institute for History, Demography, and Anthropology of Sandzak, Podgorica – Novi Pazar – Rozaje, 2024, 587 p.

Husnija Kamberovic — 2024-12-02

Book review

Ideas on the Transformation of Yugoslavia in the 1990s: A Collection of Papers, edited by Husnija Kamberović, Association for Modern History, Sarajevo, 2021., p. 186.

Faris Sacic — 2024-12-02

Book review

Xavier Bougarel, Handzar Division. Waffen SS in Bosnia 1943–1945, Sarajevo: Association for Modern History, 2021, 295 p.

Ainur Ahmetovic — 2024-12-02

Book review

David Motadel, Islam and the War of Nazi Germany. Belgrade: Čigoja Print, 2023, 387 p.

Husnija Kamberovic — 2024-12-02

Book review

Hana Levi, From Belsen: 1944−1945. Sarajevo: Buybook, 2024.

Husnija Kamberovic — 2024-12-02

Book review

Igor Duda, Socialism on the Doorstep: Local Community and the Everyday Life of Social Self-Management in Yugoslavia. Zagreb – Pula: Srednja Europa, 2023., 256 p

Fikreta Jakubovic — 2024-12-02

Book review

BALKAN MUSLIMS AND EUROPEAN HISTORY: LAW, CITIZENSHIP, AND POLITICAL AFFILIATION

Emily Greble — 2024-12-02

In this lecture, Professor dr. Emily Greble presents an overview of her recent book, Muslims and the Making of Modern Europe, and discusses major themes and controversial arguments, especially as they relate to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dzevad Juzbasic (1929 – 2024)

Husnija Kamberovic — 2024-12-02

In memoriam Dzevad Juzbasic