Grassroots Ethnonationalism: Serbian Ethnonationalism and Heritage (Re)production Through Folklore and Ethnomusicology

Abstract

This essay explores the relationships between ethnic nationalism and folklore and ethnomusicology through a particular case of Serbia. My research is informed by personal experiences and interviews as well as participant observations with folk and ethno groups in Kruševac, Serbia. Grassroots ethnonationalism captures the formation of the collective ethnonational Serbian identity from the bottoms-up through participation and engagement with folk and ethno groups in singing, dancing, and other forms of heritage (re)production. I begin by contextualizing Serbia in history and discuss the specificities of Serbian folklore and ethnomusicology. Then I identify and explain the intellectual tools used in the paper. I dedicate the next section to talking about my identity where grassroots nationalism arises from. Next, I discuss public (cultural manifestations) and private (folk and ethno groups) places of heritage (re)production. Finally, I analyze about the embodiment of traditions in forms of human difference including ethnonationalism, gender, age, socio-economic status, emotion, geography, and anatomy.