Deconstruction of Serbia: The Balkans and Serbia from Postcolonialism to Semiperiphery Cover Image

Деконструисање Србије: од постколонијализма до полупериферије
Deconstruction of Serbia: The Balkans and Serbia from Postcolonialism to Semiperiphery

Author(s): Sanja Lazarević Radak
Subject(s): Political Philosophy, Recent History (1900 till today), Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Politics and Identity
Published by: Институт за политичке студије
Keywords: Serbia; Balkan studies; balkanism; postmodernism; postcolonialism; postmodern geographies; semi-periphery;

Summary/Abstract: Balkan Studies came into focus along with post- structuralist approaches in humanities. „The image of the Balkans”; „The Image of Serbia”, „The Representations of the Others”, are just some of the common titles of constructivist papers. During the disintegration of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, one could testify the emergence of the first scientific articles which draw attention to the practice of the orientalization and self- orientalizing. However, until the end of the twentieth century, these papers were still on the border between essentialism and the fi rst attempts of deconstruction. The first academic texts which were shifting in the new frameworks rely on so called Balkanist paradigm of Maria Todorova. While drawing attention on the stereotypes on the Balkans, they fall into the trap of self- exoticism and exaggeration of the political importance of the region. Milica Bakic Heyden became the first to turn towards „orientalist” paradigm while using the concept of reproduction of orientalism. Her concept leads to the framework in which Serbia and the Balkans are placed. Despite this, the postcolonial approaches, which grows out of Orientalism are still regarded suspicious and theoretically unexploited. The selective use of this theory or its rejection, led to scientific slwodown comapring to the other academic environments which openly analyse political and cultural state in which they found themselves. In Serbia, the postcolonialism did not get the deserved place. The reason is the ambivalent attitude towards it, especially in academic circles. The refusal to accept, analyse and change the position of periphery testify the subaltern position of social sciences in Serbia. While other peripheries exploit advanced theories like postmodern geography or a concept of semi- periphery, Serbia stays on a margin once again. That margin is not only social, ecnonomic, but it is scientific. It is a result of the anxiety and a fear of colonialism, a proof of the unwillingness to confront with own failures and marginality.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 3/Spec
  • Page Range: 105-118
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Serbian