Forging Transnational Belonging through Informal Trade: Thriving Markets in Times of Crisis

This book explores how societies cope when governments no longer assume the responsibility for providing welfare to their citizens. It uses the case study of Novi Pazar, a town in Serbia that became a smuggling hub during the Yugoslav conflict, to analyze the strengthening of existing relations between the émigré community in Turkey and the local Bosniak population in the Sandžak region. It demonstrates the interactive nature of relations between the state and local and émigré communities and will be of interest to scholars and students interested in Southeastern Europe or the Yugoslav Succession Wars of the 1990s.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate world of informal trading practices and smuggling, utilizing the captivating case study of Novi Pazar to explore how societies navigate the challenging terrain when governments relinquish their responsibility for providing welfare to their citizens. It examines the profound impact of economic transnational practices on individuals' sense of belonging in times of crisis or precarity. Specifically, it explores the intricate connections between the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the subsequent migration of the Muslim Slav population to Turkey, and how these events unfolded during the tumultuous Yugoslav Succession Wars of the 1990s. Through the lens of Novi Pazar, a town in Serbia that serves as a bustling smuggling hub, the book offers a unique perspective on the dynamics of informal market economies. It sheds light on the ways in which these economies strengthen existing relationships between the émigré community in Turkey and the local Bosniak population in the Sandžak region. By demonstrating the interactive nature of relations between the state, local, and émigré communities, this book appeals to scholars and students with an interest in Southeastern Europe, the Yugoslav Succession Wars, and social anthropology, particularly those exploring social relations and deviant behavior.

Weight: 367g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367754037