Serbs in Montenegro

Serbs compose the second largest nation in the Republic of Montenegro after the Montenegrins (around 200,000) forming 33.6% of the population, but are the largest in the entire Montenegrin community in the worldhuh, forming a 400,000 strong population and absolute majority in all Montenegrin citizenshuh. The Montenegrin Serbs are not distinctive from other Montenegrins and share among other things common origin, most notably including affiliation to a corresponding Serb clan. They speak the Serbian language, and are adherents of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The main pro-Serbian paper in Montenegro is "The Day" (Dan). The Serbs have lived in the region of Montenegro since the 7th century, they composed the absolute majority of Montenegro until the rise of communism and a separate montenegrin affiliation after World War II.

Population

The Montenegrin Serb community is 400,000 strong. There are around 200,000 Serbs in Montenegro, where they form around "32%" of its population; however, there are another 200,000 Montenegrin Serbs living in Serbia who migrated from Montenegro in recent past. It is believed that a large number of Serbs (a 10 million strong ethnic group) overall draws origin from Montenegro. Montenegrin citizens who declare themselves Serbs by nationality mostly live in northern Montenegro (to whom, Pljevlja is something of an unofficial capital); whilst Southern Montenegrin Serbs are concentrated in the Bay of Kotor, with Herceg Novi being the guardian land of Serbian tradition.

Municipalities of Montenegro with an absolute or a relative Serb majority are:
* Andrijevica (69.61%)
* Plužine (60.51%)
* Pljevlja (60.11%)
* Herceg Novi (52.88%)
* Žabljak (50.26%)
* Šavnik (47.44%)
* Berane (46.51%)
* Bijelo Polje (40.32%)
* Tivat (35.19%)

Language

Serbs in Montenegro speak the "Serbian language", which is also the official and largest language of the country; around "65%" of the population of the entire country speak it as their mother tongue.

Religion

Serbs are adherents of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the strongest religious institution of Montenegro (with 450,000 followers or "75%" of the total population). The current Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral is Amfilohije Radović. One of the largest places of worship is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica.

History

Serbian Empire

Zeta/Duklja, together with other neighboring states once formed the Serbian Empire.

The demographics of the medieval Serbian Empire was predominantly Serb.

Principality of Montenegro

The absolute majority of the citizens were Eastern Orthodox Serbs, with a minor Muslim (Albanian, Bosniak) percentage.

Kingdom of Montenegro

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

World War II

After the World War II, the Serbian ethnic/national identity suffered great loss in Montenegro, Tito, president of Socialist Yugoslavia encouraged the citizens of Montenegro to a separate identity than Serb.

Communism

According to the 1948 population census conducted in all 13 districts of the People's Republic of Montenegro by the officials of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia: 6,707 Montenegrins or "1.77%" of the total population declared themselves as Serbs. The highest percentage of Serbs was in the district of Herceg Novi ("18.59%") and the district of Kotor ("6.05%"); the lowest were found in the districts of Danilovgrad ("0.21%"), Kolašin ("0.24%"), and of Andrijevica ("0.27%"). Slavic Muslims in this census were listed under "undecided".

The subsequent 1953 census of all 10 districts listed 13,864 citizens, or "3.3%" of the total population. The highest share of Serbs was in the district of Boka Kotorska - "23.4%" and the district of Bar - "3.08%" and least in the districts of Durmitor and Berane (each "0.5%"). It listed an increase of the Serbian populace in "106.7%" since the last census - as many Montenenegrins by nationality started to return to their old national affiliation. The period of Communism is typical for ethnic Montenegrins frequently switching between Montenegrin and Serb nationality and even backwards.

In 1954 Arsenije Budvarević, the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral was jailed and sent to an internment camp because of his religious zeal, where he stayed until his premature death in 1963. He was succeeded by Danilo Dajković, who stayed in office until 1990. Throughout the Communist regime, the Church suffered a lot.

The 1961 population census was conducted on the new level of "municipalities" or "opštini" (from "Општина") in the People's Republic of Montenegro. It saw the introduction of two new nationalities: Yugoslav, and Moslem (the latter was chosen by some Muslims). It listed 14,087 Serbs ("2.98%"): - * Ulcinj: 91 ("0.56%") - * Bar: 387 ("1.61%") - * Budva: 285 ("5.89%") - * Tivat: 863 ("14.44%") - * Kotor: 1,788 ("10.74%") - * Herceg Novi: 4,261 ("28.11") - * Podgorica: 2,306 ("3.19%") - * Plav: 65 ("0.34%") - * Berane: 330 ("0.75%") - * Rožaje: 76 ("0.51%") - * Bijelo Polje: 420 ("0.9%") - * Pljevlja: 769 ("1.64%")

In 1971 the authorities of the Socialist Federal Republic of Montenegro conducted a population census in the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. It listed 39,512 Serbs ("7.46%" of the total population): - * Ulcinj: 223 ("1.17%") - * Bar: 1,208 ("4.37%") - * Budva: 1,469 ("24.05%") - * Tivat: 971 ("14.02%") - * Kotor: 3,362 ("17.77%") - * Herceg Novi: 5,216 ("28.39%") - * Podgorica: 5,175 ("5.23%") - * Plav: 584 ("2.98%") - * Berane: 3,920 ("7.94%") - * Rožaje: 189 ("1.17%") - * Bijelo Polje: 3,493 ("6.64%")

The Serbian element in Montenegro was under frequent and heavy pressure from the Communist government. Nowhere was this more visible than the destruction of Montenegro's highest cultural symbol (the ultimate symbol of Serbdom within Montenegro) by the Communists: Njegoš's Chapel, at the peak Lovćen became a state museum. The voice of the Serbdom of Montenegro was throughout most of the Communist age Mihailo Petrović-Njegoš, the heir to the Montenegrin Regal throne, who refused to return to his homeland and remained in exile writing and inspiring against the Communist propaganda. It worsened after the 1974 Constitution of Yugoslavia, which further decentralized the country and gave more authority to the governments of the individual republics and the autonomous provinces. - - The 1981 census listed 19,407 Serbs ("3.32%"): - * Ulcinj: 241 ("1.11%") - * Bar: 1,263 ("3.88%") - * Budva: 899 ("10.41%") - * Tivat: 850 ("9.12%") - * Kotor: 1,703 ("8.32%") - * Herceg Novi: 3,844 ("46.52%") - * Podgorica: 4,060 ("3.06%") - * Plav: 90 ("0.46%") - * Berane: 847 ("1.7%") - * Rožaje: 159 ("0.78%") - * Bijelo Polje: 949 ("1.7%") - * Pljevlja: 2,296 ("5.3%")

The other municipalities of Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Nikšić, Plužine, Šavnik, and Žabljak had small populations of Serbs as well throughout the communist censi.

1990s

The 1990s brought multi-partial elections in the Republic of Montenegro and the rise of the republican nationalism, including the lightning-fast restoration of Serbian national affiliation in Montenegro. In 1991, the nationalist Amfilohije Radović became the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, leading to a mass restoration of the Church's influence. The pro-Serbian Miloševič-sponsored regime of Momir Bulatović, Svetozar Marović and Milo Đukanović seized control in Montenegro. Serbian nationalism, Yugoslav unitarianism (especially seen in the opposition to Croatia's secession from Yugoslavia as can be seen in the 1991-1992 Siege of Dubrovnik and in the support of the 1992-1995 Serb Republic of Bosnia and Herzgovina) and old Montenegro's rich cultural heritage became the main elements of the Milošević-styled Republic of Montenegro. At the Montenegrin independence referendum, 1992 the vast majority of the population opposed, forming the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with the Republic of Serbia. Nevertheless, the Serbian political parties formed a coalition with the liberals, pacifist socialists and other opponents in a desperate cry to stop the Yugoslav wars and end the violence and the terror of Milošević's regime. The new 1992 Montenegrin Constitution changed the official language of the Republic to "Serbian" from Serbo-Croatian. In 1993, Montenegrin nationalists who were defrocked from the Serbian Orthodox Church because of political and nationalist beliefs, organized a para-branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church - the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which has been rising in popularity since that time. The failure of the Serbian side in the Yugoslav wars and eventual sanctions of FRY put an end to the Serbian national awakening movement; and Milo Đukanović eventually ousted Momir Bulatović (chasing him and his followers into opposition with the Serbs), creating his own political party and seizing much of Montenegro's governmental facilities and authority. His government's policy of opposing the Yugoslav centralist Milošević's regime and his regime in the Republic of Serbia saved him from condemnation in the West and eventual trial, bringing the state closer to NATO. His pulling Montenegro out of Milošević's bloc gained him a lot of reputation, and since then, "Montenegrin nationalism" was his key tool for remaining in power. The Serbian opposition however, was very disappointed, accusing Milo of managing to escape punishments and staying in power merely because of treason, and they implied the tearing down of Milo's authoritarian regime, which committed severe criminal acts in the following years.

Modern

In 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was downgraded to a State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The compromise was that a Montenegrin became the President of this temporary country, and Svetozar Marović, one of the main three from Milošević's old "gang", an ally of Milo Đukanović and pro-independents for Montenegro, became its President. This left the Milo's politicians in much of the foreign policy control of the State Union and heavy campaigning for a successful independence referendum began.

According to the initial results of the 2003 census, there were 201,892 Serbs in Montenegro or "30.01%" of the total population. Corrected data states that there were 198,414 Serbs ("31.99%").

In 2006, Montenegro held another independence referendum. The compromise was that a 55% majority was needed, contrary to the Yugoslav standards of a two-third majority. The Coalition for independence ("Yes!") flagged under the Serbian government is alleged to have committed numerous vote-balloting and Milo's regime using other means to assure the needed percentage. In the end, the Serbian Block for State Union ("No!") lost, with the tight results of 55.5%:44.5%. Independence was proclaimed, although the Serbian parties and their allies boycotted.

Politics

The Serb political parties are the Serb People's Party (that won 12 seats out of 81 within the Parliament of Montenegro) and the Serb Radical Party (without influence) that together form a Coalition known as the Serbian List. It is the main opposition to the current Montenegrin regime and is composed by many non-governmental organizations and pro-Serb factions in Montenegro.I t bases itself upon the protection of Serbs in Montenegro, the Serbian language and the Serbian Orthodox Church as well as closer ties with Serbia, such as citizenship in Serbia for Montenegro's Serbs by nationality. The Serb Radical Party is a client of the main Serbian Radical Party from Serbia, and proposes inner Serbian autonomy in Montenegro, based on several factors: 1) National - places where Serbs are in majority; 2) Religious - places of strongest influence, value and importance of the Serb Orthodox Church; 3) Linguistic - places where the Serbian language is spoken by the majority; 4) Political - places where most of the population is pro-Serbian orientated (those that opposed Montenegro's 2006 independence referendum) and 5) Historical - places of important historical Serbian national value.

The conservative People's Party holds 2 seats in the Montenegrin Assembly. It bases itself upon the heritage of the Petrovich dynasty and Montenegro's natural and traditional Serbian heritage. It is in a coalition with the democratic Democratic Serbian Party that has 1 seat in the Assembly of Montenegro, as well as the Socialist People's Party, together holding 11 seats and forming the second-line opposition to the current Montenegrin government. Other political parties that maintain a pro-Serbian view are the Socialist People's Party (with 8 seats) and the Movement for Changes (with 11 seats).

Despite differences, all these parties, forming practically the whole of the Montenegrin Assembly outside of Đukanović's jurisdiction (almost half of it) share one common thing - opposition to the current autocratic regime of Đukanović and absolute rule of his Party; democratization of Montenegro and survival of its jeopardized Serbian element.

Whereas the common thing among the Serbs is that they do not view themselves as a people separate of the Montenegrins by nationality, they have the same rights as the Montenegrins are not treated as a minority.

With the resignation of the Montenegrin nationalist authoritarian Premier Milo Đukanović on 3 October 2006 a giant relief is felt within the populace and there is a large amount of optimism for the future. Afterwards it seems as if he remained efectively in the power, beeing the president of the ruling party, with the country remaining authoritarian.

Prominent individuals

* Stefan Nemanja
* Miloš Obilić
* Vasilije III Petrović-Njegoš
* Petar I Petrović Njegoš
* Petar II Petrović Njegoš (Radivoje Tomov Petrović, Rade)
* Marko Miljanov Popović
* Nikola I Petrović Njegoš
* Mirko Petrović Njegoš
* Karađorđe Petrović
* Aleksandar I Karađorđević (his mother was a Montenegrin Serb)
* Puniša Račić
* Mihailo Petrović-Njegoš
* Radovan Karadžić
* Amfilohije Radović
* Milica Jovović
* Matija Bećković (by his father's ancestry)
* Batrić Jovanović
* Nikola Vukčević
* Visarion Ljubiša
* Stjepan Mitrov Ljubiša
* Patriarch Varnava (Rosić)
* Radoman Božović
* Jovan Cvijić (by ancestry)
* Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (by ancestry)
* Slobodan Milošević (by his father's ancestry)
* Miloš Obrenović (by ancestry)
* Vojislav Koštunica (by ancestry)
* Boris Tadić (by his father's ancestry)
* Željko Ražnatović Arkan (by his father's ancestry)

ee also

* Serbs
* Montenegro
* Montenegrins
* Bokelji
* Demographics of Montenegro
* Serb People's Party (Montenegro)
* Serbian List
* People's Party of Montenegro
* Serb National Guard of Kotor

External links

* [http://www.rastko.org.yu/istorija/srbi-balkan/vrudic-montenegro.html The Ethnic Structure of the Population in Montenegro]
* [http://www.njegos.org/ Serb Land of Montenegro]
* [http://www.mitropolija.cg.yu/ Orthodox Metropolinate of Montenegro and the Littoral]
* [http://www.rastko.org.yu/rastko-cg/ Project Rastko - Cetinje]
* [http://www.rastko.org.yu/rastko-bo/ Project Rastko - Bay of Kotor]
* [http://www.mitropolija.cg.yu/dvavoda/default.html Works of Orthodox Metropolitan Amfilohije]
* [http://www.sns.cg.yu/ Serb People's Party]
* [http://www.narodnastranka.cg.yu/ People's Party]