How many truths are there? Reconciliation and agonistic dialogue in the former Yugoslavia

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we offer a possible interpretation of reconciliation in the former Yugoslav area. In a conflicting past and not-reconciled region, it is presumed that the truth should be the main pillar of reconciliation. However, according to our empirical analysis of 146 reconciliation projects implemented in the period between 2002 and 2015, there are many interpretations of truths in the region which are opposed to each other. These interpretations are the result of different national political constructions, supported by the dominant structures of the societies in question. Accordingly, instead of insisting on a single factual truth, we propose the introduction of the ‘agonistic dialogue’ principle, where multiple truths would coexist, thus turning former war enemies into political adversaries in the post-conflict setting.

KEYWORDS:

• Former Yugoslavia
• SFRY
• reconciliation
• truth
• agonistic dialogue

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. These criteria are: (a) Inclusively developing a shared, forward-looking vision of an interdependent society, (b) acknowledging and dealing with the past, (c) employing active strategies to build/rebuild positive relationships, (d) addressing stereotypes and prejudices so as to effect cultural and attitudinal change, (e) working towards socio-economic and political equity thereby inducing substantial social, economic and political change, (f) contributes to, restores, and maintains human dignity and human security, (g) works on strengthening guarantees of non-recurrence of violence, (h) addresses legacy of the war and the structural injustice/imbalances of the past and the asymmetrical power relations.

2. Number of case studies should not be mixed with number of RIPs, i.e., they are chosen and analysed independently from the process of selection and analysis of RIPs.

3. In this section we provide the words of expert evaluators’ ad litteram, i.e., these are statements in the transformation matrix that has been used in evaluation of the RIPs.

4. It was showed in Montenegro only on one small local TV station.

5. Similarly to Mouffe, Nikolić-Ristanović (2008) describes the phenomena by using the ‘multitude of truths’ term.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Miloš Bešić

Miloš Bešić is Full Professor at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Sciences. He teaches Sociology and Methodology. He is a national Program Director of the European Values Survey. He published a number of articles and books in the areas of post-communist society in transition, value orientations, social capital and political culture.

Nemanja Džuverović

Nemanja Džuverović is Associate Professor in Peace Studies at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Sciences, Serbia. He is Co-editor of the Journal of Regional Security. He has published articles in International Relations, Peacebuilding, East European Politics and Society and range of book chapters relating to peacebuilding and statebuilding in the Balkans.