Vol 2, No 10, 2003 pp. 717-730
UDC 17.035.3(=163.41)   342.814(=163.41)(091)
ELEMENTS OF ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE SERBS
Danijela Gavrilović
Faculty of Philosophy, Niš, Serbia and Montenegro
E-mail: dani-g@bankerinter.net
Abstract. The issues of ethnic identity of the Serbs, the time of its forming, its borders, present emotional legitimacy,have been, especially recently, very well researched problems. Numerous answers have been offered from different scientific and other standpoints; however, these issues are still highly challenging and open for consideration. This study deals with the question of the origin of ethnic identity of the Serbian people, its maintenance in the long period of slavery (referring to the slavery under the Turks), as well as the alternation of some attributes of the identification. Even though many "traditions" are of relatively new origin, this study asserts that ethnical identification of the Serbs from its beginning (prior to the enslavement by the Turks) to the present day has survived in its essential form, in spite of great changes which it underwent in the time of slavery and as such it is the basis of the Serbian national identification.
Key words:  ethnic identity, national identity, defining ethnic borders, ethnic characteristics, mythic homeland.
ELEMENTI ETNIČKE IDENTIFIKACIJE KOD SRBA
Pitanje etničkog identiteta kod Srba, vremena njegovog nastanka, granica, današnjeg emocionalnog legitimiteta, jeste, naročito u poslednje vreme mnogo promišljan problem. Mnogi su se odgovori nudili iz različitih naučnih i onih drugih vizura, ali su ova pitanja i dalje veoma izazovna i otvorena. Ovaj rad se bavi pitanjem nastanka etničkog identiteta kod Srba, njegovog održavanja u vremenu dugogodišnjeg ropstva (misli se na ropstvo pod Turcima), kao i menjanjem pojedinih atributa identifikacije. Iako su mnoge "tradicije" relativno novog porekla, u radu se tvrdi da je etnička identifikacija kod Srba od svog nastanka pre ropstva pod Turcima do danas u osnovi opstala, uprkos velikim promenama koje je pretrpela u vreme ropstva, i kao takva čini osnovu srpske nacionalne identifikacije.