Balkan Legacies

"Revisiting the study of historical legacies in south-east Europe, this volume confronts the afterlives of violence left behind through war and political repression, arguing that short-term ruptures are just as capable as decades-long regimes of leaving lasting legacies. Covering themes from commemorations, memorials, election campaigns and material heritage to migration, education, popular music, and counter-cultural tourism, this geographically comprehensive collection spotlights both familiar and lesser-known meanings and uses of its region's contested past." —Catherine Baker, Senior Lecturer in 20th Century History, University of Hull

"This excellent volume details the more traumatic and disruptive elements of the past in the Balkans, with a particular focus on the legacy of Communism. Showcasing the work of experienced as well as more junior scholars, Balkan Legacies presents fresh perspectives and original case studies, and should be beneficial both to seasoned regional specialists and new readers." —Cathie Carmichael, author of Genocide Before the Holocaust

"Southeastern Europe is a palimpsest like no other European region. The upheavals and ruptures of the twentieth century have been deposited in layers in the present and influence the future. Balkan Legacies does an excellent job showing the dual nature of legacy; it is received but also made. History, the book's intriguing case studies make clear, is not fate." —Ulf Brunnbauer, Director of the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies, University of Regensburg, Germany

"This collection, edited by Balázs Apor and John Paul Newman is a fresh, engaging sample of recent scholarship on the Balkans. The one minor complaint—which is actually a compliment—is the brevity of some chapters. The editors have still managed to assemble an admirable selection of essays into a very informative, but also very readable, enjoyable book." —Eurasian Geography and Economics

"A captivating volume. The majority of the contributions are related to and complement the growing body of literature on the culture of everyday life, remembrance studies, and the politics of representation in Southeastern Europe. The last section especially offers fresh approaches by introducing topics otherwise rarely represented in studies of socialism." —Comparative Southeast European Studies