Controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Montenegro

There is an ongoing controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Montenegro, over the national identity and the name of the language spoken by Montenegro's main ethnic group. The central issue is whether Montenegrins constitute a subgroup of Serbs or a separate ethnic group; the latter identification has been adopted by the Montenegrin political regime since the 1990s. As of 2007, the official language is "the Montenegrin language", however, the majority of citizens declared Serbian as their native language. According to the 2011 census, the "Montenegrins" were 44.98% and "Serbs" 28.73%; "Montenegrin language" at 36.97% and "Serbian language" at 42.88%.

Present situation

See also: Breakup of Yugoslavia and Montenegro Independence Referendum 2006

Until the 1990s, most of the Montenegrins defined themselves as both Serbs and Montenegrins. The vast majority of Montenegrins declared themselves as Montenegrins in the 1971–1991 censuses because they were citizens of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. As Montenegro began to seek independence from Serbia with the Đukanović—Milošević split, the difference between the Montenegrin and Serbian identities was emphasized; the Montenegrin nationalist movement sought independence. The people had to make a choice whether they supported Montenegrin independence – the choosing of identity seems to have been based on their stance on independence.

The population of Montenegro is roughly divided on ethnic and political issues between the group composed of the ethnic Montenegrins (Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic), ethnic Bosniaks, ethnic Muslims, ethnic Croats and Albanians on one side, and the group composed of the ethnic Serbs on the other.

Various notable people in Montenegro supported Montenegrin independence and acknowledge the right of citizens in Montenegro to declare themselves as ethnic Montenegrins. Noted supporters of independence include famous statesman Milo Đukanović and the Speaker of Montenegro's Parliament Ranko Krivokapić. Of the minorities, these include the historical scientist Šerbo Rastoder (a Bosniak from Berane), don Branko Sbutega (a Roman Catholic priest from Kotor, declared as a Croat, who died April 27, 2006), and journalist Esad Kočan. A number of notable Montenegrins include famous football players Dejan Savićević, Predrag Mijatović, Stevan Jovetić and Mirko Vučinić, politician Slavko Perović, Filip Vujanović, Jusuf Kalamperović declared as a Montenegrin who professes Islam, comedian Branko Babović, popular folk singer Sako Polumenta, former world kick-boxing champion Samir Usenagić, actor Žarko Laušević, fashion model Marija Vujović, members of the rock group Perper, Miraš Dedeić and former President of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marović.

Political positions

Montenegrin nationalism

Main article: Montenegrin nationalism

Serbdom

The important issue lies in the fact that neither of the opposing parties regards the other as a member of the different nation. Montenegrins regard Montenegrin Serbs as Montenegrins and vice versa. The subject of Montenegrin identity is highly characterized by regionalism, local patriotism etc. General idea of the pro-separate ethnicity is that Montenegrins are an independent group of South Slavs, who thus are very similar, yet in some aspects different than the other nations of this category. They have their own unique culture, they speak their own language etc. The general idea of the pro-Serb ethnicity is that Montenegrins are a part of the Serbian ethnic group and that the name "Montenegrin" is a geographical term which refers to the area from where these people come from. According to the theory Montenegro falls within a category of Serb Lands as do Šumadija, Vojvodina, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Metohija etc. The issue shares similarities with the ongoing issue between Romania and Moldova.

Background

Principality of Montenegro

The state was virtually the Metropolitanate of Zeta under the supervision of the Petrović-Njegoš family. The name mostly used in historiography is "Metropolitanate of Cetinje" or "Cetinje Metropolitanate" (Цетињска митрополија). The highest office-holder of the polity was the Metropolitan (Vladika, also rendered "Prince-Bishop"). Metropolitan Danilo I (1696-1735) called himself "Danil, Metropolitan of Cetinje, Njegoš, Duke of the Serb land" („Данил, владика цетињски, Његош, војеводич српској земљи..."). Metropolitan Sava called his people, the Montenegrins, by the "Serbian nation" (1766). When Bjelopavlići and the rest of the Hills (Seven hills) was joined into the state during the rule of Peter I (1782—1830), it was officially called "Montenegro and the Hills". In Danilo I's Code, dated to 1855, he explicitly states that he is the "knjaz (duke, prince) and gospodar (lord) of the Free Black Mountain (Montenegro) and the Hills".

Peter I was the conceiver of a plan to form a new Slavo-Serbian Empire by joining Bay of Kotor, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Herzegovina to Montenegro and some of the highland neighbours (1807), he also wrote "The Russian Czar would be recognized as the Tsar of the Serbs and the Metropolitan of Montenegro would be his assistant. The leading role in the restoration of the Serbian Empire belongs to Montenegro.".

In the 19th century, national romanticism among the South Slavs fueled the desire for unification.

• During Peter I's reign, the basic textbook in state schools was called "The Serb elementary reading book". Another edition was published during Petar II Petrović Njegoš's rule;
• King Nicholas said : "Who isn't loyal to Montenegrinism, he won't be accepted by God and people"
• During the reign of Danilo II Petrovic Njegos, the pupils had classes in Serbian Grammar; Serbian History; and Slavic History.
• The geography syllabus at the College of Theology consisted of "studying the Serb lands independent, subjugated and occupied as well as the main cities, places and villages in the entire Slavhood".
• The geography textbook for the 3rd grade of elementary school, in 1911, said:

"In Montenegro live only true and pure Serbs who speak the Serbian language [...] Besides Montenegro there are more Serb lands in which our Serb brothers live [...] Some of them are as free as we are and some are subjugated to foreigners".

• The 1909 census, undertaken by the Principality of Montenegro, recorded that 95% of the population spoke Serbian and followed the Orthodox Christian faith.

The sources from 19th century where Montenegrins, their influential people and historical figures refer to themselves as Serbs are not rare. However, contemporary Montenegrin historians who denounce the Serb ethnicity often argue that Montenegrins did not properly understand the concept of ethnicity. Czech writer Josef Holeček in his work Černá Hora (Montenegro), wrote that " If you ask a Montenegrin what he is by faith he will tell you that he is a Serb, if you ask him what he is by nationality, he will tell you that he is a Montenegrin". although in the same book he says that There is no higher honor for a Montenegrin than to be called a Serb. Further argument states that Montenegrins often referred to surrounding nations as Turks or Lacmans. The first term is quite common in the former Yugoslavia and refers to Slavic Muslims regardless of their nationality, the second is more endemic to Montenegro and Herzegovina and refers to Catholics. Both terms originally named invader nationalities, the Turk being an obvious name, while Lacmani was a name given to the Venetians, but evolved to serve as a purpose of branding of their own compatriots and other Slavic people who professed the aforementioned religions (both terms are pejorative and offensive). Similar is the use of the term Arab, or Black Arab often used in Serbian epic poetry where the term marks both real Arabs as well as black people or any nationality with darker skin tone whom the local Slavs met through the influence of the Ottoman Empire. The idea of the theory is that Montenegrins, being devoted Orthodoxes, equalized the terms "Serb" and "Orthodox" willing to side with the other Slavs of their faith or because of the confusion of nationality with religion. This theory is challenged by the section 92 of Prince Danilo's Code (1855) which cites Although in this country there is no other nationality than an only Serb one, and no other faith than an only Eastern Orthodox one, again can any non-clansman as well as any non-believer live and thy freedom and thy domestic right ours enjoy as every Montenegrin and every Highlander does. together with the number of official documents with the column "Nationality and Religion" (often cited: Serb,Orthodox) and a separate column "Citizenship" issued by Principality, then Kingdom of Montenegro, which, according to pro-Serb historians draws a distinct line between religion and nationality. Furthermore, Montenegrins celebrate the Slava, the ancient custom of glorification of one's family patron saint, believed to predate the Christian religion, but more importantly an exclusive mark of the Serbs, that can't be found anywhere among other Eastern Orthodox nations, including other Balkan orthodoxies (i.e. Bulgarians, Greeks, Albanians). As an old Serbian saying has it "Gdje je Slava, tu je Srbin" ("Where there is a Slava, there is a Serb").

Yugoslavia

It has been argued that there was no separate Montenegrin nation before 1945. The language, history, religion and culture were considered unquestionably Serbian. Josef Korbel stated, in 1951, that "The Montenegrins proudly called themselves Serbs, and even today it would be difficult to find people of the older generations who would say they are Montenegrin. Only young Communists accept and propagate the theory of a Montenegrin nation."

Demographic history

See also: Demographic history of Montenegro

Year	Total	Serbs	%	Montenegrins	%	Area	Note
1909	317,856		~95%			Principality of Montenegro	According to language.
1921	199,227	181,989	91.3%			Andrijevica, Bar, Kolasin, Niksic, Podgorica and Cetinje counties of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (which are categorized in official statistics as Montenegro)	According to language: Serbo-Croatian
1948	377,189	6,707	1.78	342,009	90.67	People's Republic of Montenegro (part of FPR Yugoslavia)	First census in Yugoslavia
1953	419,873	13,864	3.3	363,686	86.61	People's Republic of Montenegro (part of FPR Yugoslavia)
1961	471,894	14,087	2.99	383,988	81.37	People's Republic of Montenegro (part of FPR Yugoslavia)
1971	529,604	39,512	7.46	355,632	67.15	Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFR Yugoslavia)
1981	584,310	19,407	3.32	400,488	68.54	Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFR Yugoslavia)
1991	615,035	54,453	9.34	380,467	61.86	Socialist Republic of Montenegro (part of SFR Yugoslavia)	Last census in Yugoslavia
2003	620,145	198,414	31.99	267,669	43.16	Montenegro as part of Serbia and Montenegro	First census after breakup of Yugoslavia.
2011	620,029	178,110	28.73	278,865	44.98	Independent Montenegro	First census as independent state.

Language statistics in 2011

• Serbian: 265,895 (42.88%)
• Montenegrin: 229,251 (36.97%)
• Bosnian: 33,077 (5.33%)
• Albanian: 32,671 (5.27%)
• Rhoma: 5,169 (0.83%)
• Bosniak: 3,662 (0.59%)
• Croatian: 2,791 (0.45%)
• Others: 47,513 (7.68%)

Montenegrin people in Serbia

A number of Montenegrins living outside of Montenegro, primarily in Serbia, still maintain the Montenegrin folklore, family ties and clan affiliation. They remain Montenegrins by these standards, yet at censa they declare themselves mostly as Serbs. Some have risen to high cultural, economic and political positions and are widely known as Serbs while few know that they are of Montenegrin roots. For example, even Slobodan Milošević was a Serb of Montenegrin descent, the first generation of his family to be born in Serbia. His daughter, Marija Milošević, and his brother, the former ambassador to Russia Borislav Milošević, declare themselves ethnic Montenegrin.

Other prominent Serbs descending from partly or fully from Montenegro include linguist and major reformer of modern Serbian language Vuk Karadžić, revolutionary leader and founder of the Karađorđević dynasty Đorđe Petrović (most notably Aleksandar Karađorđević), first Serbian modern monarch and founder of the Obrenović dynasty Miloš Obrenović, notable Balkanologist and geographer Jovan Cvijić; Serbian monarchist politician and one time opponent of Milosevic in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Vuk Drašković; the wartime leader of the Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadžić, former democratic President of Serbia Boris Tadić, assassinated warlord Željko Ražnatović-Arkan who was only half-montenegrin, famous poet and writer Matija Bećković, editor-in-chief of high circulation Večernje novosti daily Manojlo Vukotić, former basketball star Žarko Paspalj, current BIA chief Rade Bulatović, Serbian Interior Minister Dragan Jočić[1], Serbian constitutional court president Slobodan Vučetić[2], and half-montenegrin actress Milla Jovovich.

Gallery

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  Ethnic structure by municipalities (census 2011).

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  Linguistic structure by settlements.

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  Linguistic structure by municipalities.

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  Serbian language by settlements.

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  Montenegrin language by settlements.

See also

• Controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Moldova