Evolution of National Identity in Montenegro

Abstract

While the current political atmosphere can be attributed to events over the past six monthsThe origin of identity in Montenegro and the desire for independence, lie deep in history. It represents the continuation of the movement of the inner centrifugal forces and simultaneously instigated from outside. These have existed since the old Yugoslavia, while these are deeply ingrained in the political institutions for the creation of identity in Montenegro.It is There are still internal public debates regarding the Montenegrin nationality and citizenship of this population. The issue of identity in Montenegro is closely related to the history and development of the country. The most controversial issue is related to the lack of historical continuity and is mainly argued in contesting its existence as an independent state or as a nation-state. The data show that there has been a movement of population with different national identities in the border regions of Montenegro. The issue of identity and crossing the border areas, especially when it comes to those places where borders were often the subject of discussion for change and population were found in situations where national identity became increasingly fluid. The methodology of this study is based on indicators of the census in Montenegro in 1948, where the number of people who were registered as Montenegrins in Montenegro (declared Montenegrin ethnicity) was 90.67%; later on, it has been dropping to 67.15% in 1971 and to 61.86% in 1991; the number of citizens who declared themselves Montenegrin dropped sharply to 44.98% in 2011. Change of the declaration of Montenegrin ethnicity has been influenced by various factors and complex internal and external, including economic development, freedom of expression, increase of cultural level, as well as the interference of external factors (in 1948, break up relations with the Soviet Union). Determination of the elements that have contributed to the declaration of Montenegrin ethnicity is of interest herein.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3p141