Changing Youth Values in Southeast Europe: Beyond Ethnicity (Southeast European Studies)

What shapes the cultural, political and ideological values of young people living in Southeastern Europe? Which identities matter to them? How are their values changing, and how can they be changed? Whois changing them? Europe's periphery is the testing ground for the success of European values and identities. The future stability and political coherence of the European Union will be determined in large measure by identity issues in this region. This book examines the ways in which ethnic and national values and identities have been surpassed as the overriding focus in the lives of the region’s youth. Employing bottom-up, ethnographic, and interview-based approaches, it explores when and where ethnic and national identification processes become salient. Using intra-national and international comparisons of youth populations of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Vojvodina, contributors uncover the mechanisms by which ethnic identities are evoked, reproduced and challenged. In addition to exploring political, regional cultural generational and class identities, the contributors examine wider questions of European unity. This volume offers a corrective to previous thinking about youth ethnic identities and will prove useful to scholars in political science and sociology studying issues of ethnic and national identities and nationalism, as well as youth cultures and identities. What Shapes The Cultural, Political And Ideological Values Of Young People Living In Southeastern Europe? Which Identities Matter To Them? How Are Their Values Changing, And How Can They Be Changed? Who Is Changing Them? Europe's Periphery Is The Testing Ground For The Success Of European Values And Identities. The Future Stability And Political Coherence Of The Union Will Be Determined In Large Measure By Identity Issues In This Region. This Book Examines The Ways In Which Ethnic And National Values And Identities Have Been Surpassed As The Overriding Focus In The Lives Of The Region's Youth. Employing Bottom-up, Ethnographic, And Interview-based Approaches, It Explores When And Where Ethnic And National Identification Processes Become Salient. Using Intra-national And International Comparisons Of Youth Populations Of Albania, Bosnia-herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, And Serbia, Contributors Uncover The Mechanisms By Which Ethnic Identities Are Evoked, Reproduced And Challenged. In Addition To Exploring Political, Regional Cultural Generational And Class Identities, The Contributors Examine Wider Questions Of European Unity. This Volume Offers A Corrective To Previous Thinking About Youth Ethnic Identities And Will Prove Useful To Scholars In Political Science And Sociology Studying Issues Of Ethnic And National Identities And Nationalism, As Well As Youth Cultures And Identities.-- Edited By Tamara P. Trošt And Danilo Mandic. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 List of Tables 11 Editors 12 Contributors 13 Acknowledgements 16 Introduction: beyond ethnicity in research on youth in Southeast Europe 18 PART I New ethnic mosaics: cleavages within ethnic groups 34 1 Negotiating identities in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina: self, ethnicity, and nationhood in adolescents born of wartime rape 36 2 Dual citizenship and youth identity in Bosnia and Herzegovina 56 3 Complexity of inner belonging: notions of belonging and alienation among adolescents with a migrant background in Croatia 73 4 Constructing and destructing the ethnic: discourses of ethnicity among Hungarian youth in Vojvodina 92 PART II Political participation and youth identities 112 5 Youth politicization and de-politicization in contemporary Albania 114 6 From foreign mercenaries to civic activists: a comparison of youth identity in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia 127 7 Forging civic bonds ‘from below’: Montenegrin activist youth between ethnonational disidentification and political subjectivation 144 PART III Transcending ethnic identities: comparative perspectives 166 8 Taming conflicted identities: searching for new youth values in the Western Balkans 168 9 Beyond ethnic identity: history, pride, and nationhood across socio-economic lines in Serbian and Croatian youth 194 10 Out with the old: youth solidarity and nationalism among young Kosovars and Serbs 221 Conclusion 246 Index 252 Beyond Ethnicity "What shapes the cultural, political and ideological values of young people living in Southeastern Europe? Which identities matter to them? How are their values changing, and how can they be changed? Who is changing them? Europe's periphery is the testing ground for the success of European values and identities. The future stability and political coherence of the Union will be determined in large measure by identity issues in this region. This book examines the ways in which ethnic and national values and identities have been surpassed as the overriding focus in the lives of the region's youth. Employing bottom-up, ethnographic, and interview-based approaches, it explores when and where ethnic and national identification processes become salient. Using intra-national and international comparisons of youth populations of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, contributors uncover the mechanisms by which ethnic identities are evoked, reproduced and challenged. In addition to exploring political, regional cultural generational and class identities, the contributors examine wider questions of European unity. This volume offers a corrective to previous thinking about youth ethnic identities and will prove useful to scholars in political science and sociology studying issues of ethnic and national identities and nationalism, as well as youth cultures and identities."--Provided by publisher What shapes the cultural, political and ideological values of young people living in Southeastern Europe? Which identities matter to them? How are their values changing, and how can they be changed? Who is changing them? Europe's periphery is the testing ground for the success of European values and identities. The future stability and political coherence of the Union will be determined in large measure by identity issues in this region. This book examines the ways in which ethnic and national values and identities have been surpassed as the overriding focus in the lives of the region's youth. Employing bottom-up, ethnographic, and interview-based approaches, it explores when and where ethnic and national identification processes become salient. Using intra-national and international comparisons of youth populations of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, contributors uncover the mechanisms by which ethnic identities are evoked, reproduced and challenged. In addition to exploring political, regional cultural generational and class identities, the contributors examine wider questions of European unity. This volume offers a corrective to previous thinking about youth ethnic identities and will prove useful to scholars in political science and sociology studying issues of ethnic and national identities and nationalism, as well as youth cultures and identities.-- Provided by Publisher