О ИСТОРИЈСКОЈ ПРОМЕНЉИВОСТИ БАЛКАНА КАО ПОЛИТИЧКЕ МЕТАФОРЕ
On Historical Changeability of the Balkans as a Political Metaphor

Summary/Abstract: The Balkan question became relevant once again in the late 20th century. Judging by an ample literature on the subject, it is plain that there is no common opinion as to where and what the Balkans is. Depending on the context and on the author, it is obvious that its geographic borders aren’t generally accepted, i.e. that several borders are to be found within the contents of the term: historical borders (which changed in various periods of time), borders between religions, civilizations, peoples, alphabets, mentalities, ideologies etc. The borders of the Balkans are usually connected to the territory that used to belong to the Ottoman Empire, even though, large divergence from geographical limits of the space can be observed, particularly when ideological borders are in question. Due to their changeability and incongruence of these multifarious borderlines, the notion of the Balkans isn’t precise and should be met with caution. The same goes for the political metaphor of the Balkans which also changed historically and politically during the past. There isn’t permanency of nationalism and violence, although it is its primary contents. Balkan nationalisms were simultaneous with European ones at the time the creation of nations and nation-states was in keeping with modern ideas and were considered one of the human rights. The metaphor is in keeping with politics and historical context that changed, so that its contents can’t be regarded as constant.

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