National and cultural identity crisis of Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbs within Austro-Hungarian Empire (1878–1908)

The purpose of this article is to reveal the causes of national and cultural identity crisis of Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period of Austro-Hungarian occupation and annexation, which led to modifications of their self-identity. The paper meets this research aim through an extensive study of the relevant literature presenting the views of Serbian and Russian scholars. On the basis of comparative-historical and socio-cultural approaches, the authors collate the existing definitions of ethnic, national and cultural identity and define the crucial factors that make the cornerstone of cultural identity: mother tongue, ethnicity, territory, religion, habitat, food, mode of life, customs and traditions, folklore and literature, artwork and historical past. They go on to chronologically identify the developments and changes of society on the territory of the present-day Bosnian state. The article further analyzes the position of the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina within Austria-Hungary comparing their status in society and explains the choice of Bosnian Muslims and Croats as the pillar of the new government. The research produced a number of key findings. The key determinants that formed and helped to preserve Serbian cultural identity through ages are Orthodox Christianity based on St. Sava sacred tradition and the Kosovo myth, a half-historical, halflegendary event that formed the heroic and spiritual code of values and serves as a gospel in preserving Serbian cultural identity. Another feature that produced a significant impact on transforming cultural identity of Bosnian Serbs was conversion to Islam on part of some Bosnians who came to be known as Bošnjaks. Along with Islam and Orthodox Christianity, part of the Serbian population of Bosnia and Herzegovina belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, identified themselves as Croats who spoke Croatian and used Latin script. Thus the indigenous south Slavonic ethnic group of Serbs who had the same historical background and spoke the same language was divided by religion and, partially, the language — the pivotal determinants of identity. The paper demonstrates the joint efforts of the peoples inhabiting the present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina in their struggle against the occupants which were manifested in the activities of Young Bosnia, an organization that aimed at preserving national identity and creating a united Serbian state. The authors conclude that the problem of national and cultural identity crisis of Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbs finds its roots in the historical clash of three civilizations and cultures — south Slavonic, oriental and western. The article identifies the markers of national and cultural identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbs, the disintegration of which led to a crisis.

1. Lalić, V. and Francuz, V. (2016) ‘Ethnic minorities in bosnia and herzegovina — current state, discrimination and safety issues’, Balkan Social Science Review, 8(8), pp. 153–178.

2. Toleva, T. (2018) Avstro-Vengriya i stanovlenie albanskoj nacii, 1896-1908 [Austria-Hungary and Albanian nation building, 1896-1908]. Moscow: Institute of Slavic Studies Publ. (In Russian).

3. Abazovic, D. (2014) ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rethinking the relationship between confessional, ethnic and national identities (focus on bosniaks/Muslims)’, Gosudarstvo, Religiia, Tserkov’ v Rossii i za Rubezhom/State, Religion and Church in Russia and Worldwide, 32(2), pp. 11–35. (In Russian).

4. Džino, D. (2010) Becoming Slav, becoming Croat : identity transformations in post-Roman and early medieval Dalmatia. Leiden: Brill.

5. Barać, L. et al. (2003) ‘Y chromosomal heritage of Croatian population and its island isolates’, European Journal of Human Genetics, 11(7), pp. 535–542. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200992.

6. Guskova, E. Y. (2001) Istorija jugoslavskogo krizisa (1990-2000) [History of the Yougoslav Crisis]. Moscow: Russkij nacional’nyj fond Publ. (In Russian).

7. Budenkova, V. E. and Savelieva, E. N. (2016) ‘Identity as a Topic of Theoretical and Methodological Analysis: Models and Approaches’, Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Kul’turologiya i iskusstvovedenie, 21(1), pp. 31–44. doi: 10.17223/22220836/21/4. (In Russian).

8. Katbambetova, M. A. (2013) ‘Regional Identity in the Context of Multi-Level Identity’, The Bulletin of the Adyghe State University, (4), pp. 108–112. (In Russian).

9. Fong, M. and Chuang, R. (2004) Communicating Ethnic and Cultural Identity. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.

10. Kochetkov, V. V. (2012) ‘National and Ethnic Identity in the Modern World’, Moscow State University Bulletin. Series 18. Sociology and Political Science, (2), pp. 144–162. (In Russian).

11. Guboglo, M. N. (2017) ‘Three Sources and three Components of Ethnic Identity’, Herald of Anthropology, (2), pp. 113–135. (In Russian).

12. Seliverstova, S. N. (2012) ‘Nemeckaja diaspora Rossii: nacional’naja i kul’turnaja identichnost’ [German Diaspora in Russia: National and Cultural Identity]’, Bulletin of the Moscow state University of culture and arts, (4), pp. 77–81. (In Russian).

13. Toropova, E. A. (2010) ‘National Identity as Country’s Image Component’, Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 10. Zhurnalistika, (4), pp. 219–230. (In Russian).

14. Russkikh, L. V. (2013) ‘Identity: Cultural, Ethnic, National’, Bulletin of the South Ural State University. Series, Humanities and social sciences, 13(2), pp. 178–180. (In Russian).

15. Shamsutdinova, D. and Turhanova, R. (2016) ‘Scientific Opinion on the Formation of National and Cultural Identity’, Vestnik Kazanskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta kulʹtury i iskusstv, (1), pp. 58–60. (In Russian).

16. Ponomareva, E. G. and Popadeva, T. I. (2019) ‘Youth Identity Trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia’, Scientific Journal “Discourse-P”, (3), pp. 98–119. (In Russian).

17. Astafyeva, O. N. (2016) ‘National-cultural identity in the context of globalization: a complex vector of development’, Bulletin of the Moscow state University of culture and arts, (5), pp. 32–41. (In Russian).

18. Valger, O. A. (2016) ‘Personal acquisition of national identity markers’, Chelovek.RU, (11), pp. 89–95. (In Russian).

19. Lustig, M. W. and Koester, J. (2010) Intercultural competence : interpersonal communication across cultures. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

20. Kaul, V. (2012) ‘Globalisation and crisis of cultural identity’, Journal of Research in International Business and Management, 2(13), pp. 341–349.

21. Meissner, W. (2006) ‘China’s Search for Cultural and National Identity from the Nineteenth Century to the Present’, China Perspectives, (6), pp. 41–54. doi: 10.4000/chinaperspectives.3103.

22. Mitrovich, M. (2019) ‘On Guard of Serbian History: the Phenomenon of Gusle’, Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana, (1), pp. 3–22. doi: 10.21638/11701/spbu19.2019.101. (In Russian).

23. Budich, N. Y. and Kanaeva, T. V. (2007) ‘The Intercorrelation of Self-Awareness and Self-Determination of Personality’, Siberian Journal of Psychology, (25), pp. 14–19. (In Russian).

24. Ćorović, V. (2006) Istoriјa Srba [History of Serbs]. Belgrad: Dom i Škola Publ. (In Serbian).

25. Milenkevich, N. I. (2011) ‘Pesn’ o nibelungah” i geroicheskie pesni kosovskogo cikla: tipologicheskie svjazi [“The Nibelungenlied” and Heroic Songs from Kosovo Cycle: Typological Ties].’, Vesnіk Mazyrskaga dzjarzhaўnaga pedagagіchnaga ўnіversіtjeta іmja І.P. Shamjakіna, (3), pp. 153–157. (In Russian).

26. Koloskov, E. A. (2016) ‘Kosovo myth in Contemporary Serbian and Albanian Historiography: Stages and the Main Trends’, Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana, 20(2), pp. 152–168. doi: 10.21638/11701/spbu19.2016.210. (In Russian).

27. Mahinin, A. N. (2017) ‘Policy of Memory and Sociocultural Trauma in the Context of Formation of the Russian Identities’, Bereginâ.777. Sova, (4), pp. 56–62. (In Russian).

28. Pakhomova, L. Y. (2009) ‘Russian Diplomats Against Austria in 1881–1882: Reasons and Nature of Opposition’, Gosudarstvennoe upravlenie, (21). Available at: http://ee-journal.spa.msu.ru/vestnik/item/21_2009pakhomova.htm. (In Russian).

29. Biryukov, S. V. (2018) ‘The Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Genesis of National Movements and the Rusinian Question’, Rusin, (3), pp. 193–209. doi: 10.17223/18572685/53/11. (In Russian).

30. Pakhomova, L. Y. (2008) ‘Problems of Administration of the Newly Acquired Territory in Modern Times. The Austrian Experience in Bosnia and Hercegovina (1878–1908)’, Gosudarstvennoe upravlenie, (16). Url: http://e-journal.spa.msu.ru/vestnik/item/16_2008pakhomova.htm. (In Russian).

31. Vyazemskaya, E. K. (1997) ‘Porohovoj pogreb na Balkanah — Bosniya i Gercegovina 1878–1918 gg. [Powder Magazine in the Balkans — Bosnia and Herzegovina 1878–1918].’, in On the way to Yugoslavia: pros and contras. Outlines of the history of national ideologies of the South Slavic peoples. Late 18th – early 20th century. Moscow: Indrik Publ, pp. 286–301. (In Russian).

32. Milenković, D. (ed.) (2014) SARAJEVO 1914: svedočenja . Belgrad: Prosveta; Veliko Gradište: Narodna biblioteka «Vuk Karadžić». (In Serbian).

33. Gostenkov, A. V. (2013) ‘The Bosnian Crisis’, Vestnik Leningradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta imeni A.S. Puškina, 4(2), pp. 91–104. (In Russian).

34. Berendeev, M. V. and Dyushkova, A. J. (2013) ‘The Ethno-Political Discourse of Regional Identity in Former Yugoslavia: the Bosnian Syndrome’, Vestnik Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, (12), pp. 139–149. (In Russian).

35. Ekmečić, M. (2008) Dugo kretanje između klanja i oranja istorija Srba u novom veku (1492-1992). Belgrad: Zavod za udzbenike. (In Serbian).

36. Gaćinović, R. (2018) Mlada Bosna [Young Bosnia]. Belgrad: EvroBook Publ. (In Serbian).

37. Ković, M. (2014) Gavrilo Princip : dokumenti i secanja. Novi Sad: Prometej Publ. (In Serbian).

38. Filimonova, A. I. (2011) ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’, in Yugoslaviya v XX veke: Ocherki politicheskoj istorii [Yugoslavia in the 20th Century: Essays on Political History]. Moscow: Indrik Publ, pp. 157–174. (In Russian).

39. Ćorović, V. (1925) Bosna i Hercegovina. Belgrad: Makarije Publ. (In Serbian).

40. Vishnyakov, Y. V. (2014) ‘The Serbian politics’ «Black Hand» in the early XX century’, Voenno-istoričeskij žurnal, (10), pp. 8–13. (In Russian).

41. Ponomareva, E. G. (2020) ‘The “New Past” of the Western Balkans’, Vestnik RFFI. Gumanitarnye I obŝestvennye nauki, (5), pp. 260–272. doi: 10.22204/2587-8956-2020-102-05-260-272. (In Russian).

42. Gaćinović, V. (1912) Smrt jednog heroja. Belgrad: Pijemont Publ. (In Serbian).

43. Badmayev, V. N. and Khutyz, Z. A. (2009) ‘Historical Memory and Construction of National Identity’, Novye tehnologii, (4), pp. 75–79. (In Russian).

44. Rogov, D. I. (2015) ‘National Problem in Austria-Hungary at the Early Period of World War I in the Interpretation of “The Times”’, Tambov University Review. Series: Humanities, (5), pp. 132–139. (In Russian).