Page 81 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 81
5.3 Region of Istria: A Brief Historical Overview
community, but not only there, is also reflected in the thematic festival
called Festival dell’Istroveneto in Buje. Italy and Croatia are also aware of
its importance and financially support its implementation (Agenzia in-
ternationale stampa estero, 2018; Grad Buje – Città di Buie, 2018). This
is also a sign that, regardless of all past unpleasant and conflicting sit-
uations, today many organisations of Italian emigrants (esuli), the Ital-
ians who remained in Istria after wwi i (rimasti), the Croatians and the
Slovenians would like to foster intercultural dialogue and themes, which
connect and do not divide the people of Istria (D’Alessio, 2012b, p. 66),
even though some extremist and revanchist organisations resist it. Hro-
bat Virloget (2015, pp. 547–548) and Hrobat Virloget and Čebron Lipovec
(2017, p. 66), however, find that communities still live separately (in the
same space) and conflicts still arise at the moment when various memo-
ries meet each other. Nobody acknowledges either the concept of a vic-
tim on the ‘other side’ or the concept of an executioner on their ‘own side.’
Hence, the research of Urošević (2012) identifies a certain degree of intol-
erance and stereotypes about other cultural and minority communities,
religious and cultural divisions, and the negative consequences of the last
war in Croatia; an example is the graffiti with intolerant messages, which
provoked the residents and the mayor of Pula in May 2018 (Ban, 2018).
This, however, points to the other side of the often-idealised Istrian soci-
ety.
5.3 Region of Istria: A Brief Historical Overview
When speaking of certain nations’ historiography, we can expect hetero-
genic interpretations of particular events, especially in relation to inter-
pretations from the perspective of other nations (Hrstić, 2016, pp. 58–59).
This is also evident in the border area of the Upper Adriatic (Cogoy, 2009,
p. 11; Pelikan, 2012; Verginella, 2010). According to Todorova, Verginella
(2010, p. 212) claims that historians, especially those of the border areas,
should avoid ethnocentric prejudices and thoughtful barriers and pro-
vide plurality – comparative historiography – which is not characteristic
of the Upper Adriatic. Why do not either of the sides seriously/objectively
investigate and interpret the pain, death, horror or sadness of the other
side? Why are the victims of each side victims par excellence? The follow-
ing chapters and sub-chapters will highlight the main events and mile-
stones of the history of the 20th century, where some dissonant views and
interpretations will be exposed. Therefore, we want to join those scholars
who attempt to explain the society and history of the Upper Adriatic in a
81
community, but not only there, is also reflected in the thematic festival
called Festival dell’Istroveneto in Buje. Italy and Croatia are also aware of
its importance and financially support its implementation (Agenzia in-
ternationale stampa estero, 2018; Grad Buje – Città di Buie, 2018). This
is also a sign that, regardless of all past unpleasant and conflicting sit-
uations, today many organisations of Italian emigrants (esuli), the Ital-
ians who remained in Istria after wwi i (rimasti), the Croatians and the
Slovenians would like to foster intercultural dialogue and themes, which
connect and do not divide the people of Istria (D’Alessio, 2012b, p. 66),
even though some extremist and revanchist organisations resist it. Hro-
bat Virloget (2015, pp. 547–548) and Hrobat Virloget and Čebron Lipovec
(2017, p. 66), however, find that communities still live separately (in the
same space) and conflicts still arise at the moment when various memo-
ries meet each other. Nobody acknowledges either the concept of a vic-
tim on the ‘other side’ or the concept of an executioner on their ‘own side.’
Hence, the research of Urošević (2012) identifies a certain degree of intol-
erance and stereotypes about other cultural and minority communities,
religious and cultural divisions, and the negative consequences of the last
war in Croatia; an example is the graffiti with intolerant messages, which
provoked the residents and the mayor of Pula in May 2018 (Ban, 2018).
This, however, points to the other side of the often-idealised Istrian soci-
ety.
5.3 Region of Istria: A Brief Historical Overview
When speaking of certain nations’ historiography, we can expect hetero-
genic interpretations of particular events, especially in relation to inter-
pretations from the perspective of other nations (Hrstić, 2016, pp. 58–59).
This is also evident in the border area of the Upper Adriatic (Cogoy, 2009,
p. 11; Pelikan, 2012; Verginella, 2010). According to Todorova, Verginella
(2010, p. 212) claims that historians, especially those of the border areas,
should avoid ethnocentric prejudices and thoughtful barriers and pro-
vide plurality – comparative historiography – which is not characteristic
of the Upper Adriatic. Why do not either of the sides seriously/objectively
investigate and interpret the pain, death, horror or sadness of the other
side? Why are the victims of each side victims par excellence? The follow-
ing chapters and sub-chapters will highlight the main events and mile-
stones of the history of the 20th century, where some dissonant views and
interpretations will be exposed. Therefore, we want to join those scholars
who attempt to explain the society and history of the Upper Adriatic in a
81
