{"product_id":"framing-the-nation-and-collective-identities-political-rituals-and-cultural-memory-of-the-twentieth-century-traumas-in-croatia","title":"Framing the Nation and Collective Identities: Political Rituals and Cultural Memory of the Twentieth-Century Traumas in Croatia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eThis book examines how commemorative practices in Croatia shape national identity and collective memory, focusing on the speeches of political elites, opposition politicians, and social actors. It offers innovative approaches to researching and analyzing commemorative practices in post-conflict societies. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\\n                                                            \u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\\n                              \u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 246 pages\u003cbr\u003e\\n                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 15 May 2019\u003cbr\u003e\\n                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Taylor \u0026amp; Francis Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\\n                          \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book delves into the intricate dynamics of framing the nation and collective identities through commemorative practices, specifically focusing on events from the Second World War and the 1990s Homeland War in Croatia. By examining media representations of commemorative events and analyzing opinion poll data, the author conducts in-depth interviews and participant observation at commemorative events to explore the speeches of political elites, opposition politicians, and other social actors. These actors challenge official narratives and offer alternative perspectives on these historical events. Through innovative approaches to researching and analyzing commemorative practices in post-conflict societies, this book provides a unique case study of Croatia's transition from a Yugoslav republic to an independent state and its current status as a member of the European Union. It sheds light on the complex processes of producing and representing national identities in official narratives, making it an invaluable resource for scholars of cultural memory and identity politics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe study of commemorative practices has gained significant attention in recent years, as researchers seek to understand how individuals and societies remember and interpret historical events. Commemorative practices encompass a wide range of activities, such as monuments, museums, rituals, and public ceremonies, that serve to commemorate and honor individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to society. These practices can have profound effects on the formation of collective identities and the construction of national narratives.\u003cbr\u003eIn this book, we will explore the role of commemorative practices in shaping the nation and collective identities in post-conflict societies. We will specifically focus on the case of Croatia, a country that has experienced significant political and social transformation since the end of the Cold War. Croatia's transition from a socialist state to a democratic, multiethnic society has been marked by a series of commemorative events that have played a crucial role in shaping the country's identity and national narrative.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTop-down and Bottom-up Strategies of Framing the Nation and Collective Identities:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the key approaches to framing the nation and collective identities through commemorative practices is the top-down strategy. This strategy involves the government or other powerful institutions controlling the narrative and the interpretation of historical events. In the case of Croatia, the top-down strategy has been employed to promote a unified national identity and to marginalize the legacy of ethnic conflict and war.\u003cbr\u003eThe government has established a number of national monuments and museums that commemorate the Second World War and the Homeland War. These institutions have been used to promote a national narrative that emphasizes the heroism and sacrifice of Croatian soldiers and civilians during these conflicts. The government has also promoted a narrative that portrays Croatia as a victim of aggression and oppression by its neighbors.\u003cbr\u003eIn contrast to the top-down strategy, the bottom-up strategy involves individuals and communities taking control of the narrative and the interpretation of historical events. This strategy has been particularly prevalent in Croatia during the post-conflict period. Individuals and communities have organized a number of commemorative events that honor the memory of victims of war and promote reconciliation between different ethnic groups.\u003cbr\u003eOne of the most prominent examples of the bottom-up strategy is the annual commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre. This event is organized by the Association of Srebrenica Mothers and is attended by thousands of people from all over the world. The commemoration serves to remind the world of the horrors of war and to promote reconciliation between the different ethnic groups in Croatia.\u003cbr\u003eAnother example of the bottom-up strategy is the establishment of the Museum of the Homeland War. This museum is located in the town of Vukovar and is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Homeland War. The museum is run by volunteers and is funded by donations from individuals and organizations. The museum has been used to promote a narrative that emphasizes the heroism and resilience of the Croatian people during the war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedia Representations of Commemorative Events and Opinion Poll Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to the top-down and bottom-up strategies of framing the nation and collective identities through commemorative practices, media representations of commemorative events and opinion poll data also play a significant role in shaping public opinion. Media outlets such as television, radio, and newspapers play a crucial role in shaping public perception of historical events and in promoting particular narratives.\u003cbr\u003eIn the case of Croatia, media representations of commemorative events have been used to promote a unified national identity and to marginalize the legacy of ethnic conflict and war. Television programs and documentaries have been produced that portray Croatia as a victim of aggression and oppression by its neighbors. These programs have been used to promote a narrative that emphasizes the heroism and sacrifice of Croatian soldiers and civilians during these conflicts.\u003cbr\u003eOpinion poll data has also been used to shape public opinion in Croatia. Opinion polls have been used to measure public support for particular political parties and policies. These polls have been used to promote a narrative that emphasizes the importance of national unity and the need to promote reconciliation between different ethnic groups.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpeeches of Political Elites, Opposition Politicians, and Other Social Actors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpeeches of political elites, opposition politicians, and other social actors also play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and in challenging official narratives. These speeches serve to promote particular perspectives on historical events and to challenge the dominant narratives of the government and other powerful institutions.\u003cbr\u003eIn the case of Croatia, political elites have been particularly vocal in their speeches on commemorative events. Political leaders have used their speeches to promote a unified national identity and to marginalize the legacy of ethnic conflict and war. They have also used their speeches to promote a narrative that emphasizes the importance of national unity and the need to promote reconciliation between different ethnic groups.\u003cbr\u003eOpposition politicians have also used their speeches to challenge official narratives and to promote alternative perspectives on historical events. Opposition politicians have used their speeches to promote a narrative that emphasizes the importance of human rights and the need to promote democracy and social justice.\u003cbr\u003eOther social actors, such as the Catholic Church, anti-fascist organizations, and war veterans and victims organizations, have also used their speeches to challenge official narratives and to promote alternative perspectives on historical events. These social actors have used their speeches to promote a narrative that emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion for the victims of war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, this book has explored the role of commemorative practices in shaping the nation and collective identities in post-conflict societies. We have specifically focused on the case of Croatia, a country that has experienced significant political and social transformation since the end of the Cold War. Through the analysis of media representations of commemorative events and opinion poll data, we have seen how the top-down and bottom-up strategies of framing the nation and collective identities have been employed to promote particular narratives and to challenge official narratives.\u003cbr\u003eWe have also seen how the speeches of political elites, opposition politicians, and other social actors have played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and in challenging official narratives. These speeches serve to promote particular perspectives on historical events and to challenge the dominant narratives of the government and other powerful institutions.\u003cbr\u003eAs we move forward, it is important to continue to study the role of commemorative practices in shaping the nation and collective identities in post-conflict societies. By understanding the complex dynamics of these practices, we can better understand how individuals and societies remember and interpret historical events and how these memories and interpretations shape the future of society.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\\n                            \u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 520g\\n                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 162 x 240 x 20 (mm)\\n                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781138504011\\n                            \\n                          \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shulph Ink","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44104171716858,"sku":"9781138504011","price":147.56,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/6fc1ee2218a86c2ecb0de138544c9a0d.jpg?v=1624925748","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/framing-the-nation-and-collective-identities-political-rituals-and-cultural-memory-of-the-twentieth-century-traumas-in-croatia","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}