Persistence of traditionalist value orientations in Serbia

Abstract

Systematic failures in attempts to modernize Serbian society during the past two centuries have led to the survival of traditionalist value orientations. The long period of Ottoman rule allowed patriarchal, warrior-tribal cultural patterns to persist and shape the basis for national and overall cultural identity. Extreme poverty, autarkical agricultural production, the slow penetration of capitalism and a market economy, an undifferentiated social structure with majority of rural population, patriarchal organization of both the private and public sphere and the authoritarian character of authority, were characteristics of Serbian pre-modern society, which inhibited its development and contributed to the persistence of traditionalism. Although the socialist period was modernizing in many respects, homology between socialist and pre-modern collectivist, egalitarian and authoritarian orientation, made it easy for nationalism to penetrate and consequently led to decomposition of the state in civil wars. Delayed post-socialist transformation, characterized by civil war, economic collapse, extreme impoverishment, and international isolation, has only strengthened the orientation towards pre-modern patterns of identification. This paper examines the persistence of collectivism, authoritarianism and patriarchal orientation in the period of unhindered post-socialist transformation, based on the data obtained in the "South-East European Social Survey Project" (SEESSP), conducted from December 2003 to January 2004. These results are compared with those obtained in the research project "Changes in the Class Structure and Mobility in Serbia", conducted in 1989

Neoconservatism in Serbia

“…Th e studies so far have indicated a high level of value inconsistency among the Serbian population (Lazić, 2011;Pešić, 2006;Pešić, 2017). Th at insight warns that it is not possible to expect surgically separated ideological positions.…”

“…Досадашња истраживања су указала на висок ниво вредносне неконзистентности у популацији Србије (Lazić, 2011;Pešić, 2006;Pešić, 2017). Тај увид упозорава да није могуће очекивати хируршки раздвојене идеолошке позиције.…”

Resources and Strategies Used by Young Parents in Serbia

“…In shaping the cultures of parenthood in Serbia, the familistic pattern is significant: a high value is placed on the family and its formation as a life goal, which makes it central to the transition to adulthood (Tomanović and Ignjatović, 2010). Other characteristics include a hetero-normative frame of married couples with children and a high level of measured support to patriarchal values and attitudes, especially in relation to gender roles in the private sphere (Pešić, 2006). A significant feature of the dominant ideology of familism in Serbia is the ethics of parental sacrifice for the benefit of their children and their best interests, which is supported by a majority of parents .…”

Family values among young people in Serbia

“…На основу поређења података из 1989. и 2004. године, Јелена Пешић закључује да традиционалне вредности у Србији остају доминантне, и подразумевају оријентисаност ка колективизму, висок скор на скали ауторитарности и висок степен патријархалности -традиционално схваћена подела послова између полова, дистинкција јавно-приватно и начин одлучивања у породици (Pesic, 2006).…”

“…на паралелно постојање предмодерности, модерности и постмодерности. Постоје рационалне вредности али су присутне и вредности преживљавања (Pesic, 2006). Посебно је истицано да поменута трансформација није заобишла ни сферу породице и брака, тј.…”