Putovanje Srbije u Evropu na Đinđićevim metaforama
Serbia’s Journey to Europe on Đinđić’s Metaphors

Summary/Abstract: Serbian politics changed noticeably after Slobodan Milošević lost power in October 2000. A new, different politician who spoke a different political language took over and became Prime Minister in 2001. His name was Zoran Đinđić. As a politician, he was loved by some and hated by others during his political and economic reforms that lasted until his assassination on March 11, 2003. Energy, speed, knowledge and innovative use of political language were positive concepts connected with Zoran Đinđić. The aim of this paper is to analyze the new conceptualization of Serbia and Europe and their relations through an analysis of metaphors used by Zoran Đinđić in his speeches and interviews published in the book Put Srbije u Evropu (Serbia’s Road to Europe), edited by Ivanović (2005). The analyzed speeches and interviews were given in the period from 2001 to 2003. Analyzing metaphors in this paper is done using the critical metaphor theory developed within the cognitive linguistics paradigm. (Charteris-Black 2006; Chilton 2004; Klikovac 2004; Lakoff and Johnson 1980; Lakoff 1991; Musolff 2004). The analysis of metaphors used by Zoran Đinđić shows how he constructed a difference between „us“democratic, fast, modern Western Europe, including the Democratic party and Đinđić himself, and „them“slow, non-democratic, old fashioned Eastern Europe, including Milošević and the old regime. As Serbia consists of both elements it is metaphorically represented as „a sick person“. The elimination of „their“ elements, id. Oriental elements, means Serbia’s recovery and the possibility of travelling into Europe and democracy. Evaluative and referential strategies used by Đinđić point at the positive movement being the movement towards the West. Further, the positive movement is conceptualized as movement forwards, and as the future is in front of the speaker, joining the European Union is represented as the only way for Serbia to survive and prosper.

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