The development geoculture of the contemporary Balkans between the challenges of modernization and retraditionalization

Abstract

The paper explores some peculiarities of the development geoculture of the postsocialist societies in transition on the basis of the results of empirical reserach conducted in Serbia, Macedonia and Bulgaria in 2003, 2007 and 2012. It focuses on the social attitudes of different social groups, and especially those of student population, on the current interethnic relations, Eurointegration modernization challenges and processes, the trends leading to dependent subdevelopment and retraditionalization. The results point to three tendencies intersecting in the given regional geospace: a) the tendency towards isolationism and retradiotionalism / retribalization, i.e. towards regression and return to premodern communities; b) the tendency towards dependent modernization and subdevelopment, and c) the tendency towards opening to the challanges of modernization and processes of European integrations. Our analysis shows that the third tendency is the most productive / the optimal one in drawing up contemporary development strategy / development policy. It is tightly intertwined with modern production forces, globalization processes, progressive reform tendencies and the culture of peace, and should therefore be insisted on in social processes directed by social agents. This is a result of the fact that the future of the Balkans does not lie in the focus on the past, in divisions and clashes, but in opening new development and civilizational perspectives for new generations, in the culture of peace and democratic cooperation and integration of this region.

Đorđe Tasić on Sociology as a Science and the Mission of the Journal Sociološki Pregled / Sociological Review in the Period 1938–2020

“…Apart from the few individuals who deal with this issue (Slobodan Antonić, Milovan Mitrović, Jovica Trkulja), there are still no comprehensive monographic studies (see Lj. Mitrović, 2011;Lj. Mitrović, 2022).…”