Bezpieczeństwo kulturowe na obszarze byłej Jugosławii : tradycje i przemiany współczesne

The article deals with the issue of cultural security on the territory of former Yugoslavia. The starting point for the further reflection is an assumption that cultural factor seems to determinate significantly the character of security concept on the mentioned above territory. Having discussed the definition of the notion which takes into consideration the politological and anthropological perspective of the phenomena, the author presents the determinants of cultural security in the Balkan region. They include the cultural character of the Balkan nations (presenting the role of intellectuals in shaping the modem national awareness in the Balkan nations, the profound significance of folk culture and collective memory), great role of the superpowers in the Balkans (the concept of the Balkans as the subordinate system; Golembski, 1982) and anti-democratic traditions. Then the author describes the concepts of cultural security that appeared in the history of Yugoslavia and its nations and depended on the mentioned above factors. Further the attention is focused on the idea of yugoslavism, the concept of cultural security created by Tito and the pluralistic model of cultural security connected with activities of so called international community in the region and the “export of democracy" observed there (Samson, 1998). In the conclusion the author states that although nationalistic countries still appear on the international arena, their autonomy is limited by “new more powerful actors” emerging (e.g. institutions and international corporations). Superpowers’ interventions contribute to serious cultural changes in the region. Therefore the suggestion is justified to carry out research on the influence of international civil and military structures on the culture of the Balkan nations and their vision of cultural security.