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The Quest for Solidarity and Tamed Nationalism: Envisioning Sustainable Peace in the B alkans
Author(s) -
Lehti Marko
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
peace and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1468-0130
pISSN - 0149-0508
DOI - 10.1111/pech.12054
Subject(s) - nationalism , solidarity , indigenous , political science , political economy , league , economy , law , sociology , economics , ecology , politics , biology , physics , astronomy
In the Balkans case it is far too often argued that peace and stability can only be achieved by escaping from the Balkans to Europe, that is, by adopting European norms of “tamed nationalism.” This article searches for the indigenous roots of the Balkan peace. The idea of a Balkan federation or union represents an often‐ignored model presented from time to time since the early 19 th century. The interwar period represents the most interesting effort to create something genuine among the Balkan states. Between 1930 and 1933 four large Balkan conferences and several smaller Balkan meetings were organized with discussions on how to achieve a sustainable peace in the Balkans. Taming extreme nationalism by emphasizing a common Balkan heritage, rewriting history, and increasing communication was the idea of the Balkan League movement in the 1930s. This experience offers a valuable model for seeking a sustainable peace in southeastern Europe today.