Between National Identity and National Culture. A View from the Balkans

This paper aims to examine the contemporary understanding of identity, culture, and political order of the contemporary Balkans both from within the country and from an external viewpoint. From such a research perspective, an attempt is made to explore the essential relations between national and cultural identity important for nation-building as a formative process of the creation of a political nation(s) in the region. It points out different aspects of these relations. At fi rst glance, national and cultural identity appear to be two opposing categories; categories that are mutually exclusive. As a matter of fact, these are two sides of the same coin in the sense that they are the face and the reverse of one value. The paper also explains various approaches to nationalism as a dominating narrative in the region that still casts its spell on both categories, as well as on political culture essential for nation building, democratisation and, fi nally, authentic perspectives for European Union membership.