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CULTURAL IDENTITY,

MULTICULTURALISM ANDINTERCULTURALISM ISTRIAN

EXPERIENCES

Nataa UroeviInterdisciplinary Study Programme of

Culture and Tourism

Juraj Dobrila University of Pula,

Croatia


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Abstract:

The paper will analyze concepts of cultural identity, multiculturalismand interculturalism in the context of European integration. We willexplore the processes of affirmation of local and regional culturalidentities as a response to the globalization of cultural trends, focusingon the historical experience of the westernmost Croatian region -Istria - as a specific border contact zone. We will also indicatepossible models of valorization of cultural diversity and interculturalcommunication in multicultural environments. Our paper will be basedon the field research conducted in the framework of the courses"Cultural Identity of Croatia" and "European Identity" at theInterdisciplinary Study Programme of Culture and Tourism. Using a

qualitative methodology, we interviewed 175 citizens of Istria. Weexplored their attitudes toward multiculturalism and interculturalism,as well as their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages ofCroatian accession to the European Union. The main objective of ourresearch was to explore self-perception of Croatian citizens about thevalues of their cultural identity, the possibilites of improvement ofintercultural communication in the region, as well as the attitudes

towards EU accession.


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Theoretical framework: culture,identity and globalization

The idea of culture (Eagleton): questions of values, symbolism,language, tradition, belonging and identity.

Culture in the era of globalization: changes the meaning of identity as apermanent, stable and unchanging means of social integration.

Cultural identity as a project of belonging and organization of themeaning of life today is based on freedom of cultural choice.

Postmodern, postnational and postcultural condition articulate culture asa dynamic, open structure to build a fundamental, globalized identity astransnational and hybrid.

Globalization has announced the identity crisis, and the crisis of the

neoliberal model and the free market ideology of ready-made identityoptions regressive return to the comunity as a shelter in relation to theplanetary effects of globalization.

Is it possible to confront the formation of the European cultural identity(as a hybrid, postnational identity of multicultural Europe) to a neoliberal

global system that politicizes the culture and produces the identities ofresistance?


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Key concepts

Cultural identity: peoples source of meaning and experience (Castels).As a local response to the globalization of cultural trends, it is constantlybeing re-constructed or "invented" with the help of stories, symbols andother forms of representation, based on the basic systems of language,ethnicity, religion, heritage or history.

The process of discursive formation is common in the creation ofEuropean and national identities. Although such cultural and historicalconstructions have a certain emancipatory role in the fight for humanrights, freedom and democracy, they often justify the use of force,genocide and war. Specifically, such a process of "imagining ofcommunity" and the construction of national identity based on grand

narratives always as a result has the homogenization and the exclusionof the Other and different as foreign and hostile.

Since the fate of the modern world is cultural diversity, ethnic absolutismrepresents regressive line of late modernity.

History of European countries after World War II showed that theirdevelopment depends mostly on the possibility to radically pacify their

societies and become an active part of the European integration process.


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Approaches to the concept of culturaldiversity:

Multiculturalism: coexistence of multiple cultures in a society,demographic and cultural diversity of society, without mutual relations.

Interculturalism: dynamic, equitable and creative exchange andinteraction between cultures that are aware of their differences and

shared values. Since it occurs as a critique of the static nature of amulticultural approach, its primary task is to define the potential of thedynamic interrelationships and mutual relations between differentcultures, and advocacy for equal rights for all cultural groups in contact.

Transculturalism: developed under the influence of globalization,debates on issues of common European identity and European values

and establishing of a common European market; linked to thedevelopment of transnational cultural orientation, stands for the highestrespect for European values and standards within each culturalinterrelationship.

Cultural pluralism: observes every culture as a dynamic entitycharacterized by pluralistic character (diversity of attitudes, values,

artifacts and patterns of behavior).


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Istria a model of sustainablemulticulturalism?

The westernmost Croatian region:a multicultural, contact zone withmobile boundaries, where differentcultures continually meet andnegotiate (cultural hybridity).

The crossroad of cultures (Slavic,Romance and Germanic), on theborder between the East and West,North and South: a wealth ofdifferent cultural influences.

Specific border region particularly

sensitive to reflect the multiculturalunity in diversity of contemporaryEurope.

The Mediterranean northernmostpeninsula, with the central positionat the heart of Europe today is the

most important Croatian touristregion.


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Research

Field research conducted in the framework of the courses CulturalIdentity of Croatiaand European Identityat the Interdisciplinary StudyProgramme of Culture and Tourism (University of Pula, Croatia).

Main objective: to train students to critically reflect local responses to

global cultural processes, Croatian and European cultural identity,cultural politics, multiculturalism and interculturalism.

Using a qualitative methodology, we interviewed 175 Istrian citizens.

We explored their attitudes toward multiculturalism andinterculturalism, as well as their thoughts on the advantages anddisadvantages of Croatian accession to the European Union. The

main objective of our research was to explore self-perception ofCroatian citizens about the values of their cultural identity, thepossibilites of improvement of intercultural communication in theregion, as well as the attitudes towards EU accession.

Basic instrument: a questionnaire with 14 questions, mostly open-ended.


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Results

Question: What does the term Croatian cultural identity mean to you? Answers: - Cultural heritage, language, and mentality of the people...- Whole tradition and heritage of the country through all its history.

- Our place in the world, our heritage, culture, history, customs and wayof life, once and today.- Something that is unique to us, to our country, that we are proud of and

we want everyone to know.- Set of specifities by which we recognize ourselves and by which others

recognize us.

- Multiethnicity, representation of all regions in their customs.- Something we are trying to sell ourselves and others, that doesnt really

exist.- Combination of different and very old heritage in a very small place,

which is with more or less success increasingly valorised andpresented. It is impossible to define it briefly, because of various

influences with regard to the history of different regions.


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Croatian cultural identity?


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Results

Question: What are the cultural characteristics, elements of tangible and

intangible heritage and values by which we are recognized abroad?

Answers: - Large number of preserved monuments in a wide area asevidence of long-term civilization, various preserved customs andtraditions, an interesting blend of East and West.

- Number of tangible and intangible heritage inscribed on UNESCOs

World Heritage List.

- Adriatic sea and beautiful coastline, thousand islands, Mediterraneancities (Dubrovnik, Korula, Hvar), beauty of nature (The Plitvice Lakes,

Kornati Islands), gastronomy, history and rich cultural heritage.

- Cultural diversity and diversity of mentalities.

- Uniqueness of language(s), literature, cultural heritage, tradition, naturalfeatures and gastronomy.


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Results

Question: Is Croatia well known/recognized abroad? What are thepossibilities to improve the image?

Only 17% of respondents think that Croatia is well known abroad.

Others believe that the image of Croatia is still based on ecologicallypreserved natural resources, sun and sea, while the cultural specifitiesare not sufficiently emphasized.

Answers:

- For years the image was created on the beautiful coast and clear sea.

Our culture is not sufficiently known and we do not use enough thepotential of cultural tourism.

- There are great possibilities to improve the image, primarily using higerquality and more agressive multimedia promotion abroad.

- Is is necessary to increase the visibility on the Internet and socialnetworks, to improve the supply and increase awareness about heritagevalues in the local population and authorities.


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Results

Question: What, in your opinion, do foreigners think of when

they hear the word Croatia?

Answers: Beauty and richness of natural and cultural heritage

- Beautiful coast, preserved nature and Adriatic Sea (50%)

- Football and sport (17%)

-Associations related to the Homeland

War, the Balkans and the formerYugoslavia (22%):

- Balkan, meaning: a bit exotic andbackward country that has recently gonethrough the war, which was visited by

many acquaintances who returnedsurprised and delighted- Only 20% of respondents as the first

association mentioned the values of

cultural heritage and identity

(monuments, Dubrovnik, The Plitvice

lakes, Brijuni islands, gastronomy...)


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Results

Question: What, in youropinion, do foreigners think ofwhen they hear the wordIstria?

Answers: - superb gastronomic

experience in the first place(54%): truffles, Istrianprosciutto, olive oil and wine

- Natural beauty, picturesquelandscapes, clean sea: Brijuni

national park, CapeKamenjak, central Istria (31%)

- Culture: richness and diversityof cultural heritage,multicultural history, variety ofdialects (17%)


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Results

Question: What, in your opinion,do foreigners think of when they

hear the word Pula?

Answers:

- First association is the Roman

Amphitheater (70%)

- Ancient monuments and festivals

(95%)

- Conclusion: Residents of Pulaand Istria perceive the Arena as

an iconic symbol of Pula as the

city marked by the ancient

heritage and revived by a number

of festival events


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Results

Question: what cultural specifities,values and symbols shouldCroatia intensively promote andcommunicate to target markets?

Answers: - A wealth ofmultinational, world heritage, theunique cultural elements:Glagolitic culture, languages,elements of cultural unity withEuropean cultures, antifascism,

modern and creative interpretationof culture...

Croatia was a part of manycountries and there are bigregional differences, so that eachregion should promote its specifity


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Results

Question: Do concepts of multiculturalism and interculturalism work inIstria and Croatia? What are the possibilities of improving intercultural

communicaton?

Answers: - Still insufficient, improvement is possible primarily through

the integrated system of education in the European Union

- Istria is the best example of multiculturalism, as well as all the peripheralareas. Croatia is generally very multicultural because of its turbulenthistory. The best models of coexistence are Pula and Istria, as anexample of coexistence between minorities and the commitment for the

preservation of everyones cultural identity

- Multiculturalism has come to life in all parts of Istria: we havebilingualism in the public use, the minority communities that havemaintained their cultural identity and present themselves throughcultural manifestations and institutions. Specifically in Labin we have

Bosniak community, Italian community, a community of Slovenes...


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Reflecting the alternatives opposed to theprevailing national concept?

Positive examples of coexistence and fostering cultural diversity in Istria:

Pula and Rovinj, Galiana, Vodnjan, ian and Peroj.

Some of respondents pointed to the lack of tolerance and prejudices

against minorities and different cultures, divison on the basis of religious

and cultural differences, and negative consequences of the recent war. They also indicate the need for reflection of an alternative opposed to the

prevailing national concept: by insisting on the concepts of collective

identity (cultural, national) and collective rights, individual civil rights of

everyone to the uniqueness and diversity, regardless of belonging to any

collectivity could be marginalized.

New forms of local and regional, transnational and cosmopolitan identity

Conclusion: situation is by far the best in Istria, where there is

coexistence of different cultures and religions, as well as the opportunity

to attend courses and schools in various languages; there are

communities of different nations, concrete example is the system ofItalian kindergarten, elementary and high schools in Istria.


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Results

Question: Are you for or against theCroatias accession to the EuropeanUnion?

Answers:

- For: 54%

- Against: 33%- Undecided: 13%

For

Against

Undecided

Although some respondents are skeptical because of the current crisis, most

of them believe that the accession to EU will improve their living conditions.

For: - Because I believe it will improve the quality of life and bring theEuropean values-It will open more opportunities for all, especially for young people, workingand studying abroad- Because of possibility of financing from EU funds

- Tourism would be more successful, education, health care andinfrastructure will be improved.


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Results: Cultural identity andglobalization

Question:Does globalization present an opportunity or a threat to ourcultural identity?

Approximatelly half of respondents perceived globalization as a threat to

the identity of small countries, while others believe that it can be used to

promote their own identity.

Answers:

- Globalization standardizes values and imposes foreign cultural models.

On the other hand, it has advantages, because it allows more intensive

communication, networking and access to information.- As a small country in a globalized world we can not remain isolated and

stand alone.

- Globalization could have positive effects on the promotion of culturalidentity, as evidenced by contemporary trends, which appreciate

originality, authenticity and uniqueness. This is our chance.


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Results

Question: How could Istria and Croatia best protect, valorise andpromote their cultural identity in a globalized world?

Answers: it is necessary to make an equal effort in:

-

High quality promotion (34%)- Education and information about the identity and heritage values (32%)

- Protection and valorisation of cultural heritage (31%)

- International cooperation and projects (3%)

- First we need to be well informed about the values of our own culture

(and recpect others). Then we have to present, protect and valorise themin the right way in museums and on the Internet... by networking in theinternational projects, reflect our own culture in a contemporary way...

- If more than a thousand years we have been able to cope with variousattemps of assimilation, in much worse conditions, I believe that we couldrespect the others but always love and protect our own culture.


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Thank you for your attention!

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