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Vojvodina’s history is quite rich and complex. Since the XVIIIth
century, it has always been multicultural. What about today? The following
article will give an overview of today’s multiculturalism in Vojvodina and in
Subotica in terms of nationalities.
Nationalities
Nationalities
In Vojvodina
The last census (2002) listed 22
nationalities according to the following distribution:
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Today
Vojvodina is 65% Serbian. Despite this, its population remains as a mosaic of
nationalities. Indeed, its first minority, Hungarian, represents 14% of its
population and the total of the other minorities represent around 16% of the
population. 8 minorities represent more than 1% each : Hungarians, Slovaks,
Croats, Yugoslavs, Montenegrins, Rumanians, Roms and Bunjevacs.
In the municipality of Subotica
In Subotica’s municipality, 6 villages have a
absolute Hungarian majority: Backi Vinogradi, Backo Dusanovo, Kelebija,
Hajdukovo, Cantavir, Supljak.
6 villages have an absolute Bunjevac and Croatian majority: Bikovo, Gornji Tavankut, Djurdin, Ljutovo, Mala Bosna et Stari Zednik.
Only 1 village has an absolute majority of Serbs : Novi Zednik
4 villages do not have any community having an absolute majority. 2 are mixed Serbian and Hungarian : Visnjevak et Palic. 1 is mixed Serbian et Bunjevac/Croatian : Misicevo. And 1 is mixed Serbian, Hungarian and Bunjevac/Croatian : Bajmok.
Although living in all the various villages of the municipality, 75% of the Serbs are living in the city of Subotica.
Roma people are significantly present in only two cities of the municipality, Subotica and Cantavir.
6 villages have an absolute Bunjevac and Croatian majority: Bikovo, Gornji Tavankut, Djurdin, Ljutovo, Mala Bosna et Stari Zednik.
Only 1 village has an absolute majority of Serbs : Novi Zednik
4 villages do not have any community having an absolute majority. 2 are mixed Serbian and Hungarian : Visnjevak et Palic. 1 is mixed Serbian et Bunjevac/Croatian : Misicevo. And 1 is mixed Serbian, Hungarian and Bunjevac/Croatian : Bajmok.
Although living in all the various villages of the municipality, 75% of the Serbs are living in the city of Subotica.
Roma people are significantly present in only two cities of the municipality, Subotica and Cantavir.
In the city of Subotica
*Various : including
Macedonians, Moslems, Albanians, Germans, Slovaks, Ruthenians, Slovenes,
Bosniaks, Russians, Bulgarians, Goranac, Rumanians, Ukrainians, Czechs, Others,
Undeclared and undefined, Regional affiliation, Unknown
In Subotica the distribution is different. Unlike the whole Vojvodina, no nationality is having an absolute majority. The biggest group is the Hungarian, gathering 35% of the city population. The four largest groups (Hungarians, Serbians, Croatians and Bunjevacs) are gathering 82% of the city population. Subotica also has one of the highest rates (7%) of people declaring themselves as Yugoslavs within the former Yugoslavia.
In Subotica the distribution is different. Unlike the whole Vojvodina, no nationality is having an absolute majority. The biggest group is the Hungarian, gathering 35% of the city population. The four largest groups (Hungarians, Serbians, Croatians and Bunjevacs) are gathering 82% of the city population. Subotica also has one of the highest rates (7%) of people declaring themselves as Yugoslavs within the former Yugoslavia.
The National Councils
The national councils of the national minorities have been redefined and strengthened by the 08.31.2009 law (zakon o nacionalnim savetima nacionalnih manjina). This one governs their status, competences, financing, election modalities, and regional and international cooperations with other institutions.
The national councils have been established in order to preserve minority identities in Serbia. Their three main fields of competences are:
- Education
- Culture
- Information
They can include up to 35 elected members, function of the size of their community. The voting system is a Party-list proportional representation. All the adult members of the minority, registered on the electoral roll held by the ministry for human and minority rights can vote. During the last election, June 6th 2010, 436 334 voters were registered in Serbia. The participation rate totalled 54,47% countrywide.
Cultural centers
The main nationalities present in Subotica have a cultural center. There are four :
Svetisava (Serbian), Bunjevačko Kolo (Croatian), Bunjevački Kulturni Centar (Bunjevac) et Népkör (Hungarian). Although these organizations have different history, they have a common mission: promoting and cherishing their national culture.
They all got fundings from the municipality, the province and the state, but also from the Hungarian governement for Népkör. They are also supported by their national council, except the Serbian center.
They are not active in the same way. Thus, the activity of the Croatian cultural center is focusing on promoting traditional dances, whereas the Hungarian center has a much wider action (activities for children, music, theater, dances, etc…). As for the Serbian center, it’s focusing its action on religious and national Serbian identity.
The cultural center are also involved in the organisation of some important events in the local life of Subotica :
Svetisava (Serbian), Bunjevačko Kolo (Croatian), Bunjevački Kulturni Centar (Bunjevac) et Népkör (Hungarian). Although these organizations have different history, they have a common mission: promoting and cherishing their national culture.
They all got fundings from the municipality, the province and the state, but also from the Hungarian governement for Népkör. They are also supported by their national council, except the Serbian center.
They are not active in the same way. Thus, the activity of the Croatian cultural center is focusing on promoting traditional dances, whereas the Hungarian center has a much wider action (activities for children, music, theater, dances, etc…). As for the Serbian center, it’s focusing its action on religious and national Serbian identity.
The cultural center are also involved in the organisation of some important events in the local life of Subotica :
- Dužijanca by Bunjevačko Kolo (harvest festival)
- Interetno festival by Népkör
- Pravoslavlja by Svetisava (two weeks dedicated to the Serbian Orthodox Church, during Christmas and Easter).
Mixed marriages
According to Viktorija Simon Vuletic who wrote a thesis on this topic, mixed marriages started in Subotica around a century ago. At first it was among the upper classes (gentry, bourgeoisie) and most of it among Bunjevci and Hungarians who shared the same catholic faith. Indeed, mixed religious marriages were at that time less accepted.
After the 2nd World War, under the socialist Yugoslavia, the influence of national and religious identities declined. “Brotherhood and Unity” was then the official slogan. There was a high pressure from the State to lower these affiliations. As a consequence, the number of ethnically mixed marriages strongly increased up to one third, which was one of the highest rate in Europe.
With the fall of Yugoslavia, ethnic barriers were restored and the number of mixed unions fell down.
After the 2nd World War, under the socialist Yugoslavia, the influence of national and religious identities declined. “Brotherhood and Unity” was then the official slogan. There was a high pressure from the State to lower these affiliations. As a consequence, the number of ethnically mixed marriages strongly increased up to one third, which was one of the highest rate in Europe.
With the fall of Yugoslavia, ethnic barriers were restored and the number of mixed unions fell down.