Introduction to Contemporary Russian-Serbian Mythology

(Patria) - The Serbian World represents a kind of copy of the idea of the Russian World, which was presented to the public in 2007, writes the Center for Geopolitical Research (GEOPOL).

In the context of clarifying the principles of the Russian World, the author's text by Igor Zevelav from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington is important, who describes this political doctrine as Russia's aspiration towards its neighbors, specifically those states where a significant Russian community lives.

Moscow has created a narrative that the Russian diaspora is a segment of the Russian World, and as such, it should follow the directives of official Moscow in its political actions.

This is a myth that advocates for the return of historical territories, which Russia considers its own, under Moscow's control. Russia justifies its relationship with its neighbors through this concept.

When it comes to the relatively new concept of the Serbian World, the introduction to the proclamation of this Greater Serbian hegemonic idea is the adoption of the charter "On the Serbian Cultural Space".

The myth of the "Serbian World" first appeared in public in 2020 when it was proclaimed by high-ranking Serbian politician Aleksandar Vulin with the aim of "unifying all Serbs into one common state," referring to the BiH entity RS, as well as parts of Montenegro and Kosovo.

Serbian intellectuals have spoken out on multiple occasions from 2020 to the present about the myth, which is equivalent to the Greater Serbian idea.

They do not consider anything problematic in this, while distrust towards this idea prevails in the Western Balkans region, and the myth of a unified Serbian World is rejected as a positive development.

Prominent Serbian orientalist Darko Atanasković, in his 2021 text "Do Serbs Dare to Be Serbs?", relativizes the myth of the Serbian World, and creates an additional myth that the idea of the Serbian World could be implemented without firing a shot, as it does not pose a threat to anyone.

He says it is a comprehensive linguistic space where Serbs live - thus justifying the theory of state expansion and the creation of a stronger Serbia.

An additional myth associated with the myth of the necessity of establishing a "Serbian World" in the 21st century is that of the "endangerment of Serbs," because they have had a "tragic fate" in the past.

Real facts are denied, while insistence is placed on a mythological premise, which is intended to justify Greater Serbian aspirations towards neighboring countries in the Western Balkans.

Such myths result in the creation of general insecurity not only in the Western Balkans but also in the rest of Europe. Therefore, it is necessary to talk about this phenomenon, which should not be taken lightly.