Self-Perceptions, Denials, and Expressions: Istrianity in a Nationalizing Croatia, 1990–1997

Abstract

All the changes of statehood, political and administrative interventions in the last century have influenced … the national, demographic, cultural, economic and social composition of Istrian villages as well as the coastal towns they surround. Thus it is not strange that today when Istrians discuss borders what they are really discussing is themselves and their identity, strategies for everyday life and the practices with which they have symbolically and physically interpreted the existence of borders on the multicultural and multiethnic territory of Istria.

Ethnic groups and a dynamic of boundary making among co-ethnics: An experience from Croatian Istria

“…Here, we may also find surveys on ethnic distance and attitudes of the ethnic majority toward various ethnic minorities in Croatia (Banovac and Boneta, 2006;Sˇiber, 1997). Within this category, we also find several studies that discuss the position and identities of minorities and migrants in Croatia, including ethnic Croats who migrated to Croatia from neighbouring countries (Ashbrook, 2005;Č apo Ž megacˇ, 2005;Gregurovic´, 2005).…”

“…Ashbrook's study ( 2005) is of direct relevance for our analysis as he also discusses how Istrian Croats perceive Croats from Herzegovina and Central Bosnia. However, it should be noted that our analysis goes beyond Ashbrook's study as he focuses exclusively on the perceptions and experiences of the Istrian majority (Ashbrook, 2005).…”

“…Here, we find studies that discuss the relationship between Istria and the state of Croatia in the post-Yugoslav period. Among other things, the studies focus on the identities of Istrians and Istrian regionalism (Ashbrook, 2005(Ashbrook, , 2011Cocco, 2010). Within this category, we also find studies that analyse how Istrians perceive themselves vis-a`-vis other Croats, and researchers who compare the attitudes of domicile Istrians with the attitudes of Croats in other regions of Croatia (Banovac, 2009;Banovac and Boneta, 2006).…”

“…In this boundary-making process, the negative reference group were 'co-ethnics from East', especially those from Bosnia-Herzegovina. As Ashbrook pointed out, these compatriots were associated with everything Istrians tried not to be associated with, such as ethno-nationalism, armed conflict and ethnic intolerance (Ashbrook, 2005(Ashbrook, , 2006. Furthermore, as Ashbrook (2005) has also indicated, one common perception of Bosnians and Herzegovinians, at least in 1990s, was that they often were involved in corruption, smuggling and other forms of criminality.…”

“…As Ashbrook pointed out, these compatriots were associated with everything Istrians tried not to be associated with, such as ethno-nationalism, armed conflict and ethnic intolerance (Ashbrook, 2005(Ashbrook, , 2006. Furthermore, as Ashbrook (2005) has also indicated, one common perception of Bosnians and Herzegovinians, at least in 1990s, was that they often were involved in corruption, smuggling and other forms of criminality. When it comes to criminality, several of the domicile Croats and Istrians we met mentioned episodes in which migrants from Bosnia-Herzegovina were involved in criminal activities.…”