POSTOJI LI U HRVATSKOJ DUBOKA DRŽAVA? ANALIZA PERCEPCIJE DUBOKE DRŽAVE HRVATSKIH POLITIČKIH AKTERA
DOES A CROATIAN DEEP STATE EXIST? ANALYSIS OF DEEP STATE PERCEPTION AMONG CROATIAN POLITICIANS

Summary/Abstract: The article analyses and discusses conspiracy theories – specifically, the conspiracy theories regarding the existence of a deep state – in order to investigate whether this perception exists among Croatian politicians as a group, and if it does, which forms it takes. By presenting relevant literature dealing with conspiracy theories and the deep state, as well as conducted research on how widespread conspiracy theories (especially the ones concerning the deep state) are in Croatia, a foundation is established for an explorative analysis of open-form interviews with Croatian politicians. The main findings of the analysis point to the fact that the perception of the existence of a deep state in Croatia is present among politicians of all political backgrounds, and that there is a multitude of descriptions on how it operates and behaves. Despite the differences between individual perceptions, all who perceived the deep state as an existing phenomenon share a pessimistic vision of the current Croatian situation, as well as a shared belief that hidden interest groups participated and operated in controversial past events in Croatia.

• Details
• Contents