Balkan.Perspectives#15

(Re)Writing History in the Western Balkans

Dear Balkan.Perspectives Readers,

In previous editions, the Balkan.Perspectives editorial team has brought to your attention how and why history in the Western Balkans region is being contested, challenged, and instrumentalised. The (re)writing of history is not neutral, but rather a deliberate political process which seeks to establish realities and narratives and reflects the power relations at different periods in time. In this regard, historical revisionism and denial cannot solely be the normalisation of monoperspective historical narratives. Historical revisionism has the potential to build a substrate that challenges fundamental democratic achievements, revives authoritarian tendencies, and discredits initiatives that challenge an essentialist view on identities and societies through the instrumentalization of historical discourses. In such cases, the creation of a “WE” mutes voices in the process of a critical historization of a common past in favour of the creation of “THE OTHERS”.

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Impressum 15 – 12/2020

Editor in Chief: Alexander Vojvoda

Editorial Team: Sunita Dautbegović – Bošnjaković, Martin Filipovski, Srđan Hercigonja, Vjollca Islami Hajrullahu, Nehari Sharri

Authors: Milivoj Bešlin, Lejla Gačanica, Shkëlzen Gashi, Husnija Kamberović, Marko Krtolica, Sanja Petrović Todosijević, Arbër Salihu, Nataša Stamenkovikj

Design (Cover page): Envinion

Translation: LBG Communications (Albanian), Ivana Radović (BCS), Martina Kimovska (Macedonian)

Proofreading: LBG Communications (Albanian/English), Zinaida Lakić (BCS), Zanet Ristoska (Macedonian)