Ewolucja i funkcje idei narodu w Serbii od schyłku XVIII wieku
The evolution and functions of the idea of the nation in Serbia from the twilight of eighteenth century

Summary/Abstract: This article represents an attempt to describe the functionalisation of the notion of the nation – as an ideological category and theoretical factor which justifies the integrative mechanics in Serbian sociocultural life. It constitutes an elementary point of reference for the historical, philosophical, theological and cultural considerations from the end of eighteenth century. Its understanding, depending on circumstances, can deal with ethnic identity (linguistic-territorial and religious), or have a mystical-nationalistic or socioeconomic dimension. The examples presented herein, taken from the texts of the Serbian thinkers of these various orientations demonstrate that emphasising the biological, ideological or spatial‑linguistic components often results in their inaccurate application and ideologisation. Among the manifestations of national auto-identification presented as characteristically Serbian are the confessional (with an Orthodox distinguishing feature), Slavonic-romantic, folkloristic‑ethnographic, naturalistic-ethical, organic‑organicistic, as well as messianic‑missionist conceptions. Many of them have an eclectic nature and are marked with historical mythology (also nationalistic ethnopsychology), therefore only some are socioculturally objective.

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