Post-Yugoslav Metamuseums: Reframing Second World War Heritage in Postconflict Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia

This book examines how Second World War heritage is being reframed in memorial museums in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, highlighting a reluctance to confront unpleasant parts of national histories. While some museums have remained unchanged, others have added new sections or completely reconceived their permanent exhibitions. The transitional position of these museums allows them to be viewed as historical formations in their own right, appealing to students and academics in heritage, memory studies, and cultural history of Southeast Europe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 259 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into the fascinating realm of how Second World War heritage is being reinterpreted in the memorial museums of post-socialist, post-conflict states such as Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. It makes a compelling argument that in all three countries, a hesitance to confront unpleasant aspects of their national histories lies at the heart of why the state-funded Second World War memorial museums continue to struggle in the post-socialist transition.

In the majority of cases, Second World War museums, exhibitions, and displays created during the Yugoslav period have remained largely unchanged. However, there are also instances where new sections have been added to existing ones, and a handful of permanent exhibitions have undergone complete reconceptualization. This transitional position of the Second World War museums has allowed us to recognize them as unique historical formations in their own right.

The book will undoubtedly captivate students and scholars engaged in the fields of heritage and museum studies, memory studies, and cultural history of Southeast Europe. It offers valuable insights into the complex processes of heritage interpretation, memory construction, and the role of museums in shaping public narratives and understanding of the past. By exploring the case studies of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, the book provides a rich and nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of Second World War heritage and its impact on these societies.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of history, memory, and cultural heritage, and it will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of museums in shaping our collective memory and understanding of the past.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031102271
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022