Controversy over linguistic and ethnic identity in Montenegro


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Montenegro

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An ongoing controversy exists over the national identity and name of the native language of the main ethnic group in the Republic of Montenegro. The issue more frequently disputed is whether Montenegrins constitute a subgroup of Serbs or a separate ethnic group. While there is wide agreement about the existence of a common language, the controversy persists about the use of the term "Montenegrin language" in certain political contexts.

Contents

History

Montenegro was part of medieval Serbia during 13th century and first half of the 14th century. Ottoman conquest of the Balkans resulted in separation from Serbia and re-emergance of Zeta. In the 19th century national romanticism among the South Slavs fueled the desire for re-unification.

In Montenegro live only true and pure Serbs who speak the Serbian language... Besides Montenegro there are more Serb lands in which our Serb brothers live... Some of them are as free as we are and some are subjugated to foreigners.[1]

Present situation

See also: Breakup of Yugoslavia and Montenegro Independence Referendum 2006

The political rift in late 1990s caused the Montenegrin/Serb ethnic issue to resurface.

The population of Montenegro is presently roughly divided on ethnic and political issues between the group composed of the ethnic Montenegrins (Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic), ethnic Bosniaks, ethnic Muslims, ethnic Croats and Albanians on one side, and the group composed of the ethnic Serbs on the other.

A number of Montenegrins living outside of Montenegro, primarily in Serbia, still maintain the Montenegrin folklore, family ties and clan affiliation. They remain 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 of Montenegrin roots. For example, even Slobodan Milošević was a Serb of Montenegrin descent, the first generation of his family to be born in Serbia. His daughter, Marija Milošević, and his brother, the former ambassador to Russia Borislav Milošević, declare themselves ethnic Montenegrin.

Other prominent Serbs descending from partly or fully from Montenegro include linguist and major reformer of modern Serbian language Vuk Karadžić, revolutionary leader and founder of the Karađorđević dynasty Đorđe Petrović (most notably Aleksandar Karađorđević), first Serbian modern monarch and founder of the Obrenović dynasty Miloš Obrenović, notable Balkanologist and geographer Jovan Cvijić; Serbian monarchist politician and one time opponent of Milosevic in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Vuk Drašković; the wartime leader of the Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadžić,[3] current democratic President of Serbia Boris Tadić,[4] assassinated warlord Željko Ražnatović-Arkan who was only half-montenegrin,[5] 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, Serbian Interior Minister Dragan Jočić[1], Serbian constitutional court president Slobodan Vučetić[2], and half-montenegrin actress Milla Jovovich.[6]

Supporters

Various notable people in Montenegro supported Montenegrin independence and acknowledge the right of citizens in Montenegro to declare themselves as ethnic Montenegrins. Noted supporters of independence include famous statesman Milo Đukanović and the Speaker of Montenegro's Parliament Ranko Krivokapić. Of the minorities, these include the historical scientist Šerbo Rastoder (a Bosniak from Berane), don Branko Sbutega (a Roman Catholic priest from Kotor, declared as a Croat, who died April 27, 2006), and journalist Esad Kočan.

A number of notable Montenegrins include famous football players Dejan Savićević, Predrag Mijatović, Stevan Jovetić and Mirko Vučinić, politician Slavko Perović , Filip Vujanović, Jusuf Kalamperović declared as a Montenegrin who professes Islam, comedian Branko Babović, Sekula Drljević, popular folk singer Sako Polumenta, former world kick-boxing champion Samir Usenagić, actor Žarko Laušević, fashion model Marija Vujović, members of the rock group Perper, Miraš Dedeić, Montenegrin ruler Ivan I Crnojević and former President of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marović.

Self-identification

See also: Demographic history of Montenegro
Year
Total
Serbs
%
Montenegrins
%
Area
Note
1909 317,856 ~95% Principality of Montenegro According to language.
1921 199,227 181,989 91.3% Andrijevica, Bar, Kolasin, Niksic, Podgorica and Cetinje counties

of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
(which are categorized in official statistics as Montenegro)

 According to language: Serbo-Croatian
1948 377,189 6,707 1.78 342,009 90.67 Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFRY) First census in Yugoslavia
1953 419,873 13,864 3.3 363,686 86.61 Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFRY)
1961 471,894 14,087 2.99 383,988 81.37 Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFRY)
1971 529,604 39,512 7.46 355,632 67.15 Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFRY)
1981 584,310 19,407 3.32 400,488 68.54 Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFRY)
1991 615,035 54,453 9.34 380,467 61.86 Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFRY) Last census in Yugoslavia
2003 620,145 198,414 31.99 267,669 43.16 Montenegro as part of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro First census after breakup of Yugoslavia.
2011 620,029 178,110 28.73 278,865 44.98 Independent Montenegro First census as independent state.

References

  1. ^ http://www.njegos.org/heritage/educat.htm
  2. ^ Demographic history of Montenegro
  3. ^ BBC: Profile: Radovan Karadzic
  4. ^ Kurir, June 30, 2004:Vojislav Koštunica (his grandfather surname was Damjanović , from Katunska nahija) Veselin konjevic: O'kle je Boris
  5. ^ IWPR: Milka Tadic: Arkanova Crnogorska Veza
  6. ^ Glas Javnosti, July 17, 2000: Koreni iz lepih Vasojevića (an interview with Milla's father)