Vienna will elect its municipal parliament on Sunday. A third of the city‘s adult population will not be allowed to vote: They do not have Austrian citizenship. Essentially xenophobic laws make it almost impossible for them to be naturalized. The biggest group within the disenfranchised population comes from former Yugoslavia.
„Half A Democracy“ weiterlesen
Does Albania have a sizeable population of Middle Eastern origin? Official terminology suggests so and regularly confuses an international audience. What may be a local peculiarity highlights the need for scientifically robust terminology when talking about ethnic or national minorities and goes to show that policies protecting their rights aren’t always as simple as they seem.
„The Time of The Gypsies. Or Not.“ weiterlesen
The world mourns Hollywood’s last legend. Kirk Douglas has died Wednesday night, aged 103 – actor, film maker, humanitarian and activist. Former Yugoslavia is a region where he is remembered particularly fondly – even though he never shot a film there.
„Spartakus će i dalje živjeti“ weiterlesen
For almost all of the 20th century, Bulgaria’s Muslims have been victims of state sponsored discrimination, deportations and attempts to wipe out their cultural existence. To date, this remains one of the well hidden chapters in Bulgarian history. An exhibition by Bulgarian artist Vera Hadzhiyska in London tries to break up the silence.
„Bulgaria’s Forbidden Names“ weiterlesen
John Lennon has roots in Ex-Yugoslavia. His secret father was a famous and controversial person of history. So claims a new video that is obviously a parody of conspiracy theories so popular in the region. The problem with the video: Somebody will believe its claims.
„Imagine… John Lennon’s Family“ weiterlesen
The Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) has set right the injustice its predecessor, the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) created with its original verdict against Radovan Karadžić. Upholding the verdict of Guilty, it extended the sentence against the former President of Republika Srpska in Bosnia to Life in Prison.
„Justice, After All“ weiterlesen
On the Balkans, Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, is being worshipped in a bizarre manner and to a grotesque extent. To the wider public the late nun is better known by her stage name Mother Teresa. In worshipping her, even her most devout fans can not hide her dark side.
„Worshipping Suffering and Malice“ weiterlesen
In terms of sports, Yugoslavia won big last night at the World Cup match Serbia – Switzerland. In terms of culture and politics, it was buried. Strangely enough, Xherdan Shaqiri, one of last night’s undertakers could be the one to resurrect it. He may want to have a serious conversation with his mother first, though.
„How Yugoslavia Was Buried Last Night. And Why It Still Lives.“ weiterlesen
Am Internationalen Tag der Muttersprache möchte Balkan Stories einen kritischen Blick auf das Sprachregime in (Ex-)Jugoslawien richten. Der renommierte Übersetzer Will Firth analysiert in einem Artikel für den Verlag Lavender Ink, der auch im anarchistischen zweisprachigen Magazin Antipolitika erschienen ist, das komplexe Spiel zwischen Sprache und Macht in Jugoslawien nach 1945 und in seinen Nachfolgestaaten. Balkan Stories bringt den Artikel mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Lavender Ink.
„Die Sprache der Macht und die Macht der Sprache“ weiterlesen
Today, millions of people in and from former Yugoslavia celebrate Republic’s Day, Dan Republike. It is the anniversary of the proclamation of the New Yugoslavia in 1943. This New Yugoslavia had to be liberated from fascist occupation in World War II. Many monuments all over Ex-Yugoslavia still honor the people who fought this battle.
„Sretan Dan Republike“ weiterlesen
Bosnia’s cultural memory is at stake. This time, not Serb militia are to blame but political neglicience, a dysfunctional government and the commercial interests of Sarajevo’s city government. A reportage that could disturb book lovers and librarians.
„Druga smrt duše Bosne“ weiterlesen
Sie nennt sich die „neueste Altstadt Europas“ und soll dem Literaturnobelpriesträger Ivo Andrić gewidmet sein. Emir Kusturicas Prestigeprojekt im bosnischen Višegrad ist zum Symbol für den lockeren Umgang mit Geschichte geworden, mit dem in Ex-Jugoslawien Nationalisten ihre Ansprüche zu legitimieren versuchen. Politisch neutral ist in diesem Kitschprojekt nur der Bankomat.
„Lass dir nichts von Emir erzählen“ weiterlesen
