Dr. Hrvoje Klasić, a professor at the Zagreb-based Faculty of Philosophy, says the Balkans has a huge problem, and that is, the nationalism, which is why the politicians do not have a clear vision for the future and it’s necessary to reinforce fight against strong historical revisionism in the region.
Mr Klasić stresses that Croatia, being the EU member state and more stable in terms of economy compared to Montenegro, can significantly assist it. “Based on Croatia’s example, you can see how to improve many things. However, if there’s anything Croatia and other countries of the region can learn from Montenegro, then it’s Montenegro’s position towards anti-fascism and World War II. Unfortunately, Croatia lost the sense for it.”
Each Western Balkan country has its own kind of extremism, according to him. Also, Mr Klasic says he has been constantly criticizing the Croatian revisionism as one must solve issues in his own home first and then criticize others.
There are many nations living in harmony in Montenegro but “now, as we are having this conversation in Podgorica, a verdict for plotting an election-day coup in 2016 is announced and convicted individuals are the representatives of Serbs in Montenegro. This is a serious issue that in way reveals many things about nationalism in Montenegro.”
However, conflicts and intolerance happen not just in the Balkans.
Croats believe Montenegrins are good people
There’s an open issue concerning the Prevlaka border dispute. On a possible solution, Klasić said: “Croatia has numerous border disputes with almost all neighbors. I haven’t done any research but I’m sure people of Croatia do not have bad opinion about Montenegro people. If you ask a Croat what’s his/her greatest problem with Montenegro, I doubt any would mention the Prevlaka border dispute.”
And who is Hrvoje Klasić?
He was born on 6.12.1972. in Sisak (Croatia) where he completed elementary and high school. In 1997, he graduated from the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb. At the same University, he defended his dissertation entitled “1968 in Yugoslavia. Socio – economic changes in the international context”. He has been working as an assistant professor at Department of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb since 2003. Hrvoje Klasić is holding number of courses related to the world and national history of the 20th century.
