Burn This House: The Making and Unmaking of Yugoslavia [Paperback]

Jasminka Udovicki (Editor), James Ridgeway (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1997

"Burn This House" is the first book in English to represent the critical, non-nationalist voices inside the former Yugoslavia. Written primarily by Muslim, Croatian, and Serbian journalists and historians, this collection relies on the perspective of the people who live there to portray the chain of events that have led to the current genocidal wars in the heart of Europe. These essays elucidate the Balkan tragedy while directing attention toward the antiwar movement and the work of the independent media that has been largely ignored by the U.S. press. They show that, contrary to descriptions by the Western media, the roots of the warring lie not in ancient Balkan hatreds but rather in a specific set of socio-political circumstances that occurred after the death of Tito and culminated at the end of the Cold War. In bringing together these essays, Serbian-born sociologist Jasminka Udovicki and Village Voice Washington correspondent James Ridgeway provide essential historical background for understanding the recent turmoil in Croatia and Bosnia and expose the catalytic role played by the propaganda of a powerful few on both sides of what eventually became labeled an ethnic dispute. In her introduction, Udovicki terms the most persuasive vehicle of such communications "ethno-kitsch" and describes such instances as the "turbo-folk-rock" that flooded the airwaves in the mid-1980s and the slogans chanted by fans of favourite national football clubs. The chapters that follow illuminate the sociological complexity and unique conditions that underlie the continuing tragedy of the former Yugoslavia. A poignant and informative explication of the Balkan tragedy by journalists and academics with firsthand knowledge of the subtle dynamics involved, "Burn This House" will educate political scientists, European historians, and all those interested in international affairs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This anthology is based on the premise that authors from the former Yugoslavia have yet much to teach us about their country's tragedy. The result is a collection of rich insights drawn from the history of Ottoman rule through the burdens of implementing the Dayton Accords. Specialists will particularly applaud articles revealing the critical importance of the current opposition press in Croatia and Serbia. Susan Woodward (Brookings), the single non-Yugoslav contributor, adds an excellent chapter on foreign involvement in the early phases of the conflict. Other contributors sharpen our image of the overall situation by demolishing the "ancient hatreds" thesis of violent conflict and identifying President Tudjman's "ultranationalism" as the "single most important ideological resource" for Serbia's Milosevic. Editor Udovicki's concluding plea for the West to enunciate clearly a "firm universal principle" of minority rights is compelling. Highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries.?Zachary T. Irwin, Pennsylvania State Univ.-Erie
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

OThis glorious and expertly edited, collaborative volume is one of the best guides to understanding the Yugoslav war of 1991ETH1995, providing readable historical background and balanced analyses of the war. The book would be an ideal choice for assignment in an upper division or graduate class on Eastern Europe.ONSabrina P. Ramet, HMJ School of International Studies, University of Washington, Seattle

Product Details

• Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: Duke Univ Pr (Tx) (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822319977
• ISBN-13: 978-0822319979
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,032,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)