Montenegrins
Montenegrins are South Slavic people who are primarily associated with the republic of Montenegro, a joint partner of the Serbia and Montenegro country. The matter of Montenegrin nationhood is a controversial issue, primarily among the Serbs. It is fairly undisputed that the word Montenegrins can refer to all residents of Montenegro, as well as to persons whose origin can be traced into Montenegro. However, the issue of Montenegrin ethnicity is debated.
For a long time, Montenegro was an independent state whose residents mostly self-identified as belonging to "a tribe of Serbs". Since 1948, official censa of Yugoslavia offered an opportunity of Montenegrin ethnic declaration, accepted by most Montenegrins because it, on one hand, satisfied those who did not relate themselves to Serbs, and on the other hand was not received as contradictory to Serbian ethnic feeling. However, due to politic division on the issue of Montenegrin independence in the late 20th century, the issue of ethnic identity became controversial again. Today, Montenegrin and Serb identities are not exclusive and the size of each group varies with each census, due to political events and as people view themselves, on balance, as more one than the other. For example, a "Montenegrin" may view himself as a "Serb" as well, and vice versa. Of course, in both groups there are those who view themselves as belonging to one group exclusively. In recent years, due to association of Montenegrin ethnicity with the controversial movement for independence, the number of Montenegrins in an ethnic sense does seem to be in steep decline.
As a parallel, Serbian-Montenegrin relationship could be seen similar to German-Austrian. The Austrian nationality and state exists, but there is no Austrian language.
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History
Numerous historical documents confirm that a number of Montenegrins have felt that they have a Serbian ethnic identity;
- During Petar I Petrović Njegoš's reign, the basic textbook in state schools was called "The Serb elementary reading book". Another edition was published during Petar II Petrović Njegoš's rule.
- During the reign of Danilo II Petrović Njegoš, students had classes in Montenegrin history as well as Serbian history.
- Numerous school certificates, passports and similar documents preserved marked the bearer's nationality as "Serbian"
- The 1909 census, undertaken by the Principality of Montenegro, recorded that Serbs consisted of 95% of the population.
- In November 26 1918, the Podgorica Assembly voted for "union of the people", declaring a joining into the Kingdom of Serbia
In 10th cenury, Montenegro was called Red (southern) Croatia and was part of Tomislav's kingdom. By the beginning of 12th century this name disappeared, as the Montenegrins started separating from croatian rule and making base for independence. The origins of Montenegrin national independence are traced back to the 11 century and the rule of the king Vojislav and later Bodin. During the late Middle Ages Montenegro was a part of Serbian state, but it regained independence in late 14th century, remaining completely independent country, principality and then kingdom, up until World War I (not in the Ottoman domain, like Serbia).
The 19th century national romanticism among the South Slavs caused an increasing desire for unification between these peoples, most so between the Montenegrins and the Serbians, which became increasingly considered as two parts of a single Serbian nation among many.
Both Montenegro and Serbia remained separate until 1918, when both kingdoms became part of the newly-forged Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia. The royal Yugoslav government made the national unification of the Montenegrins and the Serbians into a policy, although this unconditional merger — or forceful annexation — under the crown of the Serbian dynasty, was seen by some of the Montenegrins as an imposition, given that Montenegro was degraded into a mere province in the new Yugoslav kingdom. A number of Montenegrins rose up in arms in 1919 in an uprising against Serbian rule, better known as the Christmas Rebellion.
Several world leaders recognized that the Serbian rule over Montenegro was an imposition, including the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. When delivering his Fourteen Points for peace on January 8, 1918 in the U.S. Congress, which the Great Powers later ratified, Wilson also commented:
- "Romania, Serbia and Montenegro must be restored. Relations between the Balkan states must be settled in a friendly way, along paths which have been historically decreed to them. To these different states will be given international guarantees, which will secure political and economical independence, as also the whole integrity of their territory."[1]
Western newspapers also reported of the brutal occupation by Serb forces.
The Communist Party of Yugoslavia opposed the Yugoslav monarchy and its unification/annexation policy, and supported Montenegrin independence due to their state tradition and the undemocratic imposition of Serbian rule over Montenegro. Simmering discontent in Montenegro was akin to the rising dissatisfaction in Croatia and Slovenia with the autocratic rule from Belgrade. This caused the Communist Party to gain much popularity, despite the fact that the Montenegrin state tradition came to existence after the joint states of the medieval Serbs had existed for a long time.
When the second Yugoslavia was formed in 1945, the Communists who led the Partisans during the war became the new régime. They recognized, sanctioned and fostered a national identity of Montenegrins, i.e. as a people distinct from the Serbs and other southern Slavs. The number of people who were registered as Montenegrins in Montenegro was at 90% in 1948, but it has been dropping since, to 62% in 1991, and to 40% in 2003. For a detailed overview of these trends, see Demographic history of Montenegro.
After the fall of Communism, the idea of Montenegrin identity has been taken over by independence-minded Montenegrins and opposed by a hard-line faction of the pro-Belgrade Serbs in Montenegro (except the leading pro-Serb opposition party SNP). Since the mid-1990s and a de facto defeat of Serbian nationalist ideas in the Yugoslav wars, the Montenegrins elected a new leadership that distanced itself from authoritarian policies of the Serbian president Slobodan Milošević. At the same time, Milošević remained a figure of inspiration for many of the pro-Serb parties in Montenegro, which continued as a strong political force. Montenegro has since been rather polarized over this issue.
Present situation
The population of Montenegro is presently roughly divided on ethnic and political issues between the group composed of the Montenegrins by nationality, ethnic Bosniaks and Albanians on one side, and the group composed of the Montenegro Serbs on the other. The former group forms a slim majority over the latter and has repeatedly won national elections.
The Bosniak and Albanian minorities recognize the existence of a separate Montenegrin nationality likely due to their own efforts of self-determination, their experience with the autocratic policies of Belgrade, and because their links to the Orthodox Serbs are weak.
Various notable people in Montenegro support Montenegrin independence and by extension claim that they don't consider Montenegrins to be Serbs. Noted supporters include Montenegro's President Filip Vujanović, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, the Speaker of Montenegro's Parliament Ranko Krivokapić. Of the minorities, these include the historical scientist Šerbo Rastoder (a Bosniak from Berane), a Roman Catholic priest don Branko Sbutega (from Kotor, declared as a Croat), journalist Esad Kočan (a Bosniak).
A number of Montenegrins live outside of Montenegro, primarily in Serbia, and still maintain Montenegrin lore, family ties and clan affiliation. They remain nominally Montenegrins by these standards, yet at censa they declare themselves mostly as Serbs. Some have risen to high cultural, economic and political positions and are widely known as Serbs while few know that they are Montenegrins; for example, even Slobodan Milošević is a Montenegrin Serb, the first generation of his family to be born in Serbia. Meanwhile, his brother, the former ambassador to Russia Borislav Milošević, declares himself a Montenegrin.
Other prominent Montenegrin Serbs include linguist and major reformer of modern Serbian language Vuk Karadžić, the wartime leader of the Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadžić<ref>BBC: Profile: Radovan Karadzic</ref>, current President of Serbia Boris Tadić<ref>Kurir, June 30 2004: Veselin konjevic: O'kle je Boris</ref>, assassinated warlord Željko Ražnatović-Arkan<ref>IWPR: Milka Tadic: Arkanova Crnogorska Veza</ref>, famous poet and writer Matija Bećković, editor-in-chief of high circulation Večernje novosti daily Manojlo Vukotić, former basketball star Žarko Paspalj, current BIA chief Rade Bulatović, and actress Milla Jovovich<ref>Glas Javnosti, July 17 2000: Koreni iz lepih Vasojevića (an interview with Milla's father)</ref>.
See also
- Montenegro
- History of Montenegro
- Demographic history of Montenegro
- Bokelji
- Montenegrin cap
- Artists from Montenegro
External links
- Njegos.org Culture and History of Montenegro
- The Njegos Network: Montenegro News & Studies
- The Montenegrin Association of America: Links to Geography, History, Religion, Literature, language, Culture, Music, Politics, etc...
- Montenegro by the National Geographic Society (November 1908)
References
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