Race in a raceless society: an ethnographic study of lived experiences of race in Serbia
Political, social, and cultural shifts in the 20th century throughout the geo-cultural region of the Balkans have fostered the concept of a society devoid of racial distinctions. This notion suggests that unlike the prevailing racial dynamics found elsewhere in the world, the Balkans are potentially devoid of such categorisations. The primary reason behind this absence can be traced back to the region's historical development, one that deviates from Eurocentric colonial paradigms and is deeply influenced by its two-decade experimentation with Titoism—a socialist political ideology associated with President Marshal Josip Broz Tito of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1940 to 1980. Tito's leadership, within the context of the post-World War II Non-Aligned Movement, advocated for decolonisation and the rejection of racism, arguably influencing the region's current outlook on the concept. Contemporary global racial discourses and recent events, such as the so-called ‘European Refugee Crisis’, have led the resurfacing of racial discourses in the Balkans. Consequently, scholars have undertaken extensive efforts to challenge the narrative of the Balkans being devoid of racial dynamics, arguing that race has historically been a central aspect of the region. This thesis adds nuance to these discussions through an ethnographic investigation of lived experiences of race in the Balkans against the backdrop of longstanding perceptions of racelessness.