Croatia’s Disputed Commemorations: How History Became Politicised

The result is a volume of academic articles entitled 'Framing the Nation and Collective Identities', edited by Pavlakovic and Davor Paukovic from the University of Dubrovnik.

Pavlakovic told BIRN that the research included events from both wars because the politics of remembrance surrounding and defining them are completely intertwined.

"WWII is inevitably interpreted through the prism of the 1990s war in contemporary Croatia, which is why it was important for this project to look at a variety of commemorative practices dealing with the 20th Century and how political and social actors represent [both wars]," Pavlakovic said.

While the project focused on analysing commemorative speeches at the events, the team also conducted fieldwork to record the language used at the commemorations, as well as the media coverage of these events, he added.

"I think our forthcoming volume provides some insight into the divisive issues in Croatia's collective memory, as well as the specific memory actors who perpetuate the divisions rather than seek to resolve them and focus on more pressing economic and social problems," he explained.

Besides the volume of articles, Pavlakovic said the project created a database containing transcripts, videos and photos of these events that can be used for future research of commemorative practices.

Although the project focused on Croatia, he emphasised the need for a regional approach in dealing with the issue, as nationalist parties in other post-Yugoslav countries manipulate traumas from the recent past as well.

Croatian politics shifts to the right

Bleiburg commemoration in 2017. Photo: Framnat.eu

In the analysis of commemorations covered by the project, Pavlakovic singled out...