The Balkan – Where Is It and What Does It Mean?

The Balkan – Where Is It and What Does It Mean?

The Balkan border is a disputing issue as Slovenia is included on some maps and not on the other, and the part of Romania which belongs to this region is unclear.

Balkan Scissors blogs a short but fairly  detailed post describing the Balkan:

The identity of the Balkans owes as much to its fragmented and often violent common history as to its mountainous geography. The region was perennially on the edge of great empires, its history dominated by wars, rebellions, invasions and clashes between empires, from the times of the Roman Empire to the latter-day Yugoslav wars.

The author’s observation rang true during my recent travel to the mountainous region of Banat in Romania. More than twice, the word “Balkan” was sarcastically used when an unpleasant situation arose. (will be mentioned my next post about the Balkan)

Although the former characterization of the Balkans is widely used and extremely common today, it is important to note that this characterization is also widely exaggerated and may be connected to historically negative connotations the Balkans have amongst Western European nations and political elites. Recent problems and conflicts in the Balkans having to do with recent political and social divisions rather than the so-called age-old ‘tendency’ of the Balkan peoples to engage in war and conflicts.

Culture Etiquette

So what should you do?
Czechs don’t like to be called Eastern Europeans because the term carries a negative connotation, implying a former, miserable, screwed up Communist state. Also, in every geographical and historical sense, the Czech Republic lies in Central Europe, subjected to the rule of Austro-Hungarian empire for hundred of years and has been the culture center of Europe. Similarly, if you happen to be in contact with Slovenians or Croatians who are not your friends, you will be wise not to associate them to the Balkan. The word “Balkan,” for some, is not something to be proud of. Slovenia has become rightfully an EU member, converted to the EURO, and been doing economically well. Croatia has tried hard to follow its neighbor’s footsteps, thus getting rid of the Yugoslavia and Balkan past altogether.

[Balkan Scissors]