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PublisherCentral European University Press

ISBN-109637326936

ISBN-139789637326936

eBay Product ID (ePID)57063401

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Number of Pages412 Pages

Publication NameNonconformists : Culture, Politics, and Nationalism in a Serbian Intellectual Circle, 1944-1991

LanguageEnglish

SubjectEurope / Eastern, Europe / General, Political Ideologies / Nationalism & Patriotism

Publication Year2007

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaPolitical Science, History

AuthorNick Miller

FormatHardcover

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Item Height0.6 in

Item Weight59.3 Oz

Item Length9.2 in

Item Width6.3 in

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Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2007-010662

TitleLeadingThe

Reviews"Over the last five years, in articles and reviews, Nick Miller has been pushing historians and other scholars to ask the question: can Serbian intellectuals be held accountable for ''the creation of one of the most intolerant and narcissistic national movements that I know of?'' ... Miller lays out the case for three influential Serbian literary and cultural figures: a novelist, Dobrica cosic; a painter, Mica Popovic; and a literary critic and playwright, Borislav Mihajlovic Mihiz. ... In Miller''s capable hands, the four-decade cultural and intellectual journey they took to nationalism is understandable and explainable, and their embrace of Slobodan Milosevic was a predictable outcome of ''their perceptions of the nature and the needs of the Serbian nation'' (p. 359). Miller concludes that not only was their support for Milosevic logical and expected, in fact, it was their cultural production and intellectual leadership that prepared the groundwork."--American Historical Review "Miller''s study, really an interlocking set of intellectual biographies, opens an important door onto Serbian society. This is especially important for the 1970s and 1980s, little studied decades in which Serbian dissatisfation with Yugoslavia grew more concrete and widespread. Miller''s book is rich in analysis of literary works and paintings; these analyses alone give many worthwhile insights into Serbian thought and politics, and most have been absent from previous analyses in the West. The author, further, provides a godd sense of the working of various writers'' organizations, artists'' societies, and party officials."--Slavic and East European Journal "This book is about three Serbian intellectuals -- Dobrica C''osic'' (writer), Mic''a Popovic'' (painter) and Borislav Mihajlovic'' Mihiz (literary critic and theater director) and their work after Second World War until the beginning of nineties. We could see how they wrote or painted, as well as the revival of nationalism in Serbia during that period. In fact, this is a book about nationalism in Serbia. Miller''s intention was to look closer in its revival, mainly in intellectual circuits and he completely succeeded in that. Miller is showing us what was the position of the Serbs in Yugoslavia, and that turning to nationalism was provoked by unfulfilled promises made by the Communist Party and that it was direct response to it. One of that promises was extermination of nationalism in Yugoslavia, but, while only a hint of nationalism in Serbia was sanctioned, that was not the case in Croatia and Slovenia. This book explains that the revival of nationalism among intellectuals in Serbia, and among Serbs in general, was a process, not a sudden appearance. As Miller strongly argues, Serbs were pushed towards this process."--Balkan Academic News "The Nonconformists sets out to examine the evolution of Serbian nationalism through a prism as intuitive as it is unlikely--writers and artists, figures typically associated with radical politics but less often with the political right.(...) Miller emphasizes that it is not his intent to create sympathy for the nationalists but to understand why some Serbs viewed Milosevic and the radical nationalist movement as a solution to the oppression that they felt in Yugoslavia. He does so superbly. The Nonconformists is not a fast-paced book; it is nearly impossible to skim. Every chapter--indeed, every page--contributes to Miller''s narrative about the processes of nationalist transformation. By examining the gradual shifts in this transformation, Miller convincingly demonstrates that radical nationalism was neither intrinsic to the Serbian psyche nor a fait accompli. Those who believe Miller''s argument (as I do) will agree that this process is destined to continue. ''Perhaps,'' as Miller concludes hopefully, the next ideological turn will be toward something ''more humane."--Journal on Interdisciplinary History, "Over the last five years, in articles and reviews, Nick Miller has been pushing historians and other scholars to ask the question: can Serbian intellectuals be held accountable for 'the creation of one of the most intolerant and narcissistic national movements that I know of?' ... Miller lays out the case for three influential Serbian literary and cultural figures: a novelist, Dobrica Cosic; a painter, Mica Popovic; and a literary critic and playwright, Borislav Mihajlovic Mihiz. ... In Miller's capable hands, the four-decade cultural and intellectual journey they took to nationalism is understandable and explainable, and their embrace of Slobodan Milosevic was a predictable outcome of 'their perceptions of the nature and the needs of the Serbian nation' (p. 359). Miller concludes that not only was their support for Milosevic logical and expected, in fact, it was their cultural production and intellectual leadership that prepared the groundwork."--American Historical Review "Miller's study, really an interlocking set of intellectual biographies, opens an important door onto Serbian society. This is especially important for the 1970s and 1980s, little studied decades in which Serbian dissatisfation with Yugoslavia grew more concrete and widespread. Miller's book is rich in analysis of literary works and paintings; these analyses alone give many worthwhile insights into Serbian thought and politics, and most have been absent from previous analyses in the West. The author, further, provides a godd sense of the working of various writers' organizations, artists' societies, and party officials."--Slavic and East European Journal "This book is about three Serbian intellectuals -- Dobrica C'osic' (writer), Mic'a Popovic' (painter) and Borislav Mihajlovic' Mihiz (literary critic and theater director) and their work after Second World War until the beginning of nineties. We could see how they wrote or painted, as well as the revival of nationalism in Serbia during that period. In fact, this is a book about nationalism in Serbia. Miller's intention was to look closer in its revival, mainly in intellectual circuits and he completely succeeded in that. Miller is showing us what was the position of the Serbs in Yugoslavia, and that turning to nationalism was provoked by unfulfilled promises made by the Communist Party and that it was direct response to it. One of that promises was extermination of nationalism in Yugoslavia, but, while only a hint of nationalism in Serbia was sanctioned, that was not the case in Croatia and Slovenia. This book explains that the revival of nationalism among intellectuals in Serbia, and among Serbs in general, was a process, not a sudden appearance. As Miller strongly argues, Serbs were pushed towards this process."--Balkan Academic News "The Nonconformists sets out to examine the evolution of Serbian nationalism through a prism as intuitive as it is unlikely--writers and artists, figures typically associated with radical politics but less often with the political right.(...) Miller emphasizes that it is not his intent to create sympathy for the nationalists but to understand why some Serbs viewed Milosevic and the radical nationalist movement as a solution to the oppression that they felt in Yugoslavia. He does so superbly. The Nonconformists is not a fast-paced book; it is nearly impossible to skim. Every chapter--indeed, every page--contributes to Miller's narrative about the processes of nationalist transformation. By examining the gradual shifts in this transformation, Miller convincingly demonstrates that radical nationalism was neither intrinsic to the Serbian psyche nor a fait accompli. Those who believe Miller's argument (as I do) will agree that this process is destined to continue. 'Perhaps,' as Miller concludes hopefully, the next ideological turn will be toward something 'more humane."--Journal on Interdisciplinary History, "Over the last five years, in articles and reviews, Nick Miller has been pushing historians and other scholars to ask the question: can Serbian intellectuals be held accountable for ''the creation of one of the most intolerant and narcissistic national movements that I know of?''... Miller lays out the case for three influential Serbian literary and cultural figures: a novelist, Dobrica cosic; a painter, Mica Popovic; and a literary critic and playwright, Borislav Mihajlovic Mihiz.... In Miller''s capable hands, the four-decade cultural and intellectual journey they took to nationalism is understandable and explainable, and their embrace of Slobodan Milosevic was a predictable outcome of ''their perceptions of the nature and the needs of the Serbian nation'' (p. 359). Miller concludes that not only was their support for Milosevic logical and expected, in fact, it was their cultural production and intellectual leadership that prepared the groundwork."--American Historical Review "Miller''s study, really an interlocking set of intellectual biographies, opens an important door onto Serbian society. This is especially important for the 1970s and 1980s, little studied decades in which Serbian dissatisfation with Yugoslavia grew more concrete and widespread. Miller''s book is rich in analysis of literary works and paintings; these analyses alone give many worthwhile insights into Serbian thought and politics, and most have been absent from previous analyses in the West. The author, further, provides a godd sense of the working of various writers'' organizations, artists'' societies, and party officials."--Slavic and East European Journal "This book is about three Serbian intellectuals -- Dobrica C''osic'' (writer), Mic''a Popovic'' (painter) and Borislav Mihajlovic'' Mihiz (literary critic and theater director) and their work after Second World War until the beginning of nineties. We could see how they wrote or painted, as well as the revival of nationalism in Serbia during that period. In fact, this is a book about nationalism in Serbia. Miller''s intention was to look closer in its revival, mainly in intellectual circuits and he completely succeeded in that. Miller is showing us what was the position of the Serbs in Yugoslavia, and that turning to nationalism was provoked by unfulfilled promises made by the Communist Party and that it was direct response to it. One of that promises was extermination of nationalism in Yugoslavia, but, while only a hint of nationalism in Serbia was sanctioned, that was not the case in Croatia and Slovenia. This book explains that the revival of nationalism among intellectuals in Serbia, and among Serbs in general, was a process, not a sudden appearance. As Miller strongly argues, Serbs were pushed towards this process."--Balkan Academic News "The Nonconformists sets out to examine the evolution of Serbian nationalism through a prism as intuitive as it is unlikely--writers and artists, figures typically associated with radical politics but less often with the political right.(...) Miller emphasizes that it is not his intent to create sympathy for the nationalists but to understand why some Serbs viewed Milosevic and the radical nationalist movement as a solution to the oppression that they felt in Yugoslavia. He does so superbly. The Nonconformists is not a fast-paced book; it is nearly impossible to skim. Every chapter--indeed, every page--contributes to Miller''s narrative about the processes of nationalist transformation. By examining the gradual shifts in this transformation, Miller convincingly demonstrates that radical nationalism was neither intrinsic to the Serbian psyche nor a fait accompli. Those who believe Miller''s argument (as I do) will agree that this process is destined to continue. ''Perhaps,'' as Miller concludes hopefully, the next ideological turn will be toward something ''more humane."--Journal on Interdisciplinary History, This book is about three Serbian intellectuals -- Dobrica C'osic' (writer), Mic'a Popovic' (painter) and Borislav Mihajlovic' Mihiz (literary critic and theater director) and their work after Second World War until the beginning of nineties. We could see how they wrote or painted, as well as the revival of nationalism in Serbia during that period. In fact, this is a book about nationalism in Serbia. Miller's intention was to look closer in its revival, mainly in intellectual circuits and he completely succeeded in that. Miller is showing us what was the position of the Serbs in Yugoslavia, and that turning to nationalism was provoked by unfulfilled promises made by the Communist Party and that it was direct response to it. One of that promises was extermination of nationalism in Yugoslavia, but, while only a hint of nationalism in Serbia was sanctioned, that was not the case in Croatia and Slovenia. This book explains that the revival of nationalism among intellectuals in Serbia, and among Serbs in general, was a process, not a sudden appearance. As Miller strongly argues, Serbs were pushed towards this process., Miller's study, really an interlocking set of intellectual biographies, opens an important door onto Serbian society. This is especially important for the 1970s and 1980s, little studied decades in which Serbian dissatisfation with Yugoslavia grew more concrete and widespread. Miller's book is rich in analysis of literary works and paintings; these analyses alone give many worthwhile insights into Serbian thought and politics, and most have been absent from previous analyses in the West. The author, further, provides a godd sense of the working of various writers' organizations, artists' societies, and party officials., The Nonconformists sets out to examine the evolution of Serbian nationalism through a prism as intuitive as it is unlikely--writers and artists, figures typically associated with radical politics but less often with the political right.(...) Miller emphasizes that it is not his intent to create sympathy for the nationalists but to understand why some Serbs viewed Milosevic and the radical nationalist movement as a solution to the oppression that they felt in Yugoslavia. He does so superbly. The Nonconformists is not a fast-paced book; it is nearly impossible to skim. Every chapter--indeed, every page--contributes to Miller's narrative about the processes of nationalist transformation. By examining the gradual shifts in this transformation, Miller convincingly demonstrates that radical nationalism was neither intrinsic to the Serbian psyche nor a fait accompli. Those who believe Miller's argument (as I do) will agree that this process is destined to continue. 'Perhaps,' as Miller concludes hopefully, the next ideological turn will be toward something 'more humane., "Nick Miller is the riveting stylist who happens to be a historian, and the judicious historian who happens to be a writer. His humane and passionate account of the 'Nonconformists' will cause those who have read everything on the subject to rethink what they know; and those who have read not a single book to want to know more. Both sets of readers--and those in between--will find this book exceptionally edifying."--John Connelly "Theoretically informed, elegantly written, and rich in necessary nuances, the book offers a corrective to simplistic, one-dimensional interpretations of the role of intellectuals in the rise of Serbian nationalism. It provides a critical analysis of the meanders of national politics during the Tito regime. The discussion of the Rankovic affair and its role in catalyzing cosic's sense of Serbs being victims of national discrimination is among the best in literature. For Miller, like for such authors as Isaiah Berlin and Leah Greenfeld, nationalism is a matter of dignity."--Vladimir Tismaneanu "Miller's insightful study tackles the interaction of culture, politics, and nationalism in Serbia since 1945. Skillfully avoiding the extremes typical of much existing literature, which tends to describe nationalism in Serbia either as the expression of centuries old ethnic hatreds or the creation of unscrupulous politicians, Miller offers an entirely new approach grounding it in the specific postwar experiences of a small but important group of Serbian intellectuals. With tightly woven prose and dry humor, Miller shows how the genuine and sincere intellectuals who inspired unscrupulous politicians like Milosevic evolved from humanists 'willing to let communism have its chance' into committed nationalists. As we enter their psyches, and learn their individual backgrounds and experiences, we begin to see why their message was so effective and the masses so easily manipulated. Thus Miller's work connects politics to the realm of culture in a way that is critical to understanding the events of the last decades."--Carol Lilly, Over the last five years, in articles and reviews, Nick Miller has been pushing historians and other scholars to ask the question: can Serbian intellectuals be held accountable for 'the creation of one of the most intolerant and narcissistic national movements that I know of?' ... Miller lays out the case for three influential Serbian literary and cultural figures: a novelist, Dobrica cosic; a painter, Mica Popovic; and a literary critic and playwright, Borislav Mihajlovic Mihiz. ... In Miller's capable hands, the four-decade cultural and intellectual journey they took to nationalism is understandable and explainable, and their embrace of Slobodan Milosevic was a predictable outcome of 'their perceptions of the nature and the needs of the Serbian nation' (p. 359). Miller concludes that not only was their support for Milosevic logical and expected, in fact, it was their cultural production and intellectual leadership that prepared the groundwork., "Nick Miller is the riveting stylist who happens to be a historian, and the judicious historian who happens to be a writer. His humane and passionate account of the 'Nonconformists' will cause those who have read everything on the subject to rethink what they know; and those who have read not a single book to want to know more. Both sets of readers--and those in between--will find this book exceptionally edifying."--John Connelly "Theoretically informed, elegantly written, and rich in necessary nuances, the book offers a corrective to simplistic, one-dimensional interpretations of the role of intellectuals in the rise of Serbian nationalism. It provides a critical analysis of the meanders of national politics during the Tito regime. The discussion of the Rankovic affair and its role in catalyzing Cosic's sense of Serbs being victims of national discrimination is among the best in literature. For Miller, like for such authors as Isaiah Berlin and Leah Greenfeld, nationalism is a matter of dignity."--Vladimir Tismaneanu "Miller's insightful study tackles the interaction of culture, politics, and nationalism in Serbia since 1945. Skillfully avoiding the extremes typical of much existing literature, which tends to describe nationalism in Serbia either as the expression of centuries old ethnic hatreds or the creation of unscrupulous politicians, Miller offers an entirely new approach grounding it in the specific postwar experiences of a small but important group of Serbian intellectuals. With tightly woven prose and dry humor, Miller shows how the genuine and sincere intellectuals who inspired unscrupulous politicians like Milosevic evolved from humanists 'willing to let communism have its chance' into committed nationalists. As we enter their psyches, and learn their individual backgrounds and experiences, we begin to see why their message was so effective and the masses so easily manipulated. Thus Miller's work connects politics to the realm of culture in a way that is critical to understanding the events of the last decades."--Carol Lilly

Grade FromCollege Graduate Student

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal320.5409497

Table Of ContentPreface Chapter 1 Simina 9a in a New Yugoslavia Chapter 2 Nonconformist Initiations Chapter 3 Cosic: Engagement and Disillusionment, 1956-1966 Chapter 4 Drama and Politics: Mihiz in the Sixties Chapter 5 The Suicide and Rebirth of the Painting: Mica Popovic, 1959-1974 Chapter 6 Fragmented Serbia Chapter 7 Cosic and Popovic Return To Serbia Chapter 8 From Principle to Catharsis Chapter 9 The Children of Cain Chapter 10 The Limits of Revelation Chapter 11 The Legend of Simina 9a in Serbia's Modern History Bibliography Illustrations Credits Index

SynopsisSerbia's national movement of the 1980s and 1990s, the author suggests, was not the product of an ancient, immutable, and aggressive Serbian national identity; nor was it an artificial creation of powerful political actors looking to capitalize on its mobilizing power. Miller argues that cultural processes are too often ignored in favor of political ones; that Serbian intellectuals did work within a historical context, but that they were not slaves to the past. His subjects are Dobrica Cosic (a novelist), Mica Popovic (a painter) and Borislav Mihajlovic Mihiz (a literary critic). These three influential Serbian intellectuals concluded by the late 1960s that communism had failed the Serbian people; together, they helped forge a new Serbian identity that fused older cultural imagery with modern conditions., Serbia's national movement of the 1980s and 1990s, the author suggests, was not the product of an ancient, immutable, and aggressive Serbian national identity; nor was it an artificial creation of powerful political actors looking to capitalize on its mobilizing power. Miller argues that cultural processes are too often ignored in favor of political ones; that Serbian intellectuals did work within a historical context, but that they were not slaves to the past. His subjects are Dobrica cosic (a novelist), Mica Popovic (a painter) and Borislav Mihajlovic Mihiz (a literary critic). These three influential Serbian intellectuals concluded by the late 1960s that communism had failed the Serbian people; together, they helped forge a new Serbian identity that fused older cultural imagery with modern conditions.

LC Classification NumberDR2008.M54 2007

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Nonconformists : Culture, Politics, and Nationalism in a Serbian Intellectual Circle, 1944-1991 by Nick Miller (2007, Hardcover)

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