Blog Post 1

 The National Self

National identity is a term that refers to one’s sense of belonging or feeling of unity with the other members of their nation. National identity is a nation’s and its citizens’ sense of community and loyalty within each other. This bond is formed through shared experience, and there aren’t a lot of experiences more transformational than that of opposition and trauma. Due to this reason, a nation will shift and become shaped most effectively when at conflict with a significant other. What are significant others in this context? Any group that is seen as a threat to a nation’s physical boundaries or its authenticity is considered a significant other. In these conflicts, however, significant others allow for lots of opportunities for growth for a nation. Like pressure turning coal into diamonds, the tension from neighboring countries or other potential threats has the ability to spark innovation (“What is the Meaning of National Identity?”, n.d.).

Put this in the context of Montenegro, and you have a full cast of characters. Montenegro has gone through a lot of changes over the last century. It was once part of Yugoslavia from 1929 to 2006. Alongside it in that union was Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosvco, and Macedonia. By 2003, only Serbia and Montenegro wanted to remain in the union, so it became known as the federated union of Serbia and Montenegro (“Montenegro” n.d.). In 2006, the Montenegrin government held an independence referendum which resulted in 55% of voters voting for Montenegro to become an independent nation. By that narrow margin, Montenegro won its independence and set off as a young nation with its most prominent significant others being the former Yugoslavia and the other countries that were also part of the former republic. In short, because its history is so deeply tied to Yugoslavia and its such a young nation, Montenegro’s national identity is shaped by its roots in the union.

Triandafyllidou distinguished between three different types of significant others, three different ways for the “Others” to intimidate, threaten, and influence a nation. Montenegro’s relationship with Yugoslavia matches up best with Triandafyllidou’s first type of significant other. This subcategory of significant other is “the dominant nation of ethnic group of a multinational state from which the ingroup seeks to liberate and/or distinguish itself,” as defined by Triandafyllidou herself. By 2006, Montenegro was ready to differentiate itself from Yugoslavia and Serbia and secede from the union. Especially due to all the confusion and conflict around Montenegrins and Serbians not being distinguishable, Montenegro was itching to define itself (Triandafyllidou, 1998).

The referendum in itself was a redefining moment for more reasons than just Montenegro becoming independent. During and before the event, voters split up into two categories: pro-independence Montenegrins and unionist Serbs. During this time, Montenegrins and Serbians’ political agendas became distinctive to their respective countries. As previously mentioned, Montenegro won its independence by gaining 55% of the vote at the referendum. This is such a slim margin that it leads one to understand how this could cause tension between the two now separate nations and confusion over the ethnic identity of the people living in these nations. So, while the results of the 2006 independence referendum allowed Montenegro to redefine its identity on a large scale, the voting process highlighted the generalized differences in Montenegrins and Serbians’ political agendas, which drove the countries further apart and consequently made the countries each more distinct (Dzankic, 2013).

Montenegro and Serbia, however, continue to challenge each others’ national identity even now. There are current continuing disputes over the ethnicity of the Montenegrin people, and whether or not they’re Serbs. There is also a conflict over what the national language is called―Montenegrin or Serbian. This is likely because of how long the two nations were united under the republic of Yugoslavia and due to their close proximity to one another. These two factors make it easy for their respective national identities to become somewhat blurred. Despite these tensions, however, Montenegro and Serbia had not been hostile towards one another for a very long time, up until late 2019. They were a great example of significant others because, while they do not present an immediate physical threat to each other, they are perceived to be a threat, so they have influence on each other. It is undeniable that these countries have shaped each other over the years and how their cultures have ended up overlapping in some places because of this.

Currently, there is conflict because in December of 2019, clerical protests broke out in Montenegro over a newly adopted religious law that would transfer ownership of the church buildings and estates of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Serbian Orthodox Church to the Montenegrin state. In response, Serbians joined in on the protest, even going as far as to burn the Montenegrin flag at the capitol. Upset with the disruption from rioting alt-right Serbians, Montenegro alleged Serbia of meddling in Montenegrin affairs. The two nations are learning what happens when national tensions are left to fester under the surface for a long period of time (Savic, 2019). 

In relation to Montenegro, Serbia is Triandafyllidou’s third type of significant other. This means it is a nation that is physically close, but does not challenge the nation territorially. Instead, Serbia challenges Montenegro’s identity, validity, and its distinctiveness. Serbia is an external significant other that has been intimidating Montenegro from the outside ever since they separated, but never actually physically attacking. Rather, it eats away at Montenegro’s legitimacy as a nation by questioning and opposing factors that make up its culture, such as its language and nationality. Disputes such as these are dangerous because of how crucial a nation’s national identity is. Because the concept of a “nation” is a man-made construct, perception is everything. How a nation presents itself and is received by the rest of the world is incredibly important to its wellbeing. If others outside of the situation cannot distinguish Montenegro from Serbia, there is an issue of weakened identity.

The small, newly independent country of Montenegro has significant ties to the other countries in the South Balkans region because of its former union with them. Despite the disintegration of the union completely in 2006, the countries continue to influence each other and help shape each others’ national identity by playing the role of “significant other.” Because of the tensions between Montenegro and Serbia, both nations grew and transformed into what they are today. Montenegrins may not like that they have to fight for recognition and validation among Serbians, but that in it of itself is helping Montenegrin culture and shared experiences build up, which is especially important for the nation right now as it adjusts to its newfound independence.

Dzankic, J. (2013). Cutting the mists of the Black Mountain: Cleavages in Montenegro’s divide over statehood and identity. Nationalities Papers, 41(3), 412–430. https://doi-org.proxy.seattleu.edu/10.1080/00905992.2012.743514

Montenegro (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2021, Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/ place/Montenegro

Savic, M. (2019, December 17). Balkan Tensions Flare as Montenegro Angers Serbs Over Church. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ 2019-12-27/montenegro-adopts-law-that-could-curb-ties-with-neighbor-serbia

Triandafyllidou, A. (1998). National identity and the 'other'. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 21(4), 593-612.

What Is the Meaning of National Identity? (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2021, Reference.com, https://www.reference.com/world-view/meaning-national-identity-a6313ef683d99c84