Slavoj Žižek (Andy Miah / flickr)
Internationally renowned philosopher Slavoj Žižek recently gave a series of lectures in Montenegro. The speeches focused on the relationship between Europe and the Balkans, the need for EU integration and the situation in Kosovo. Our interview
“The Balkans are Europe's myth. They have been the screen onto which Europeans projected their dreams – and this has been their doom. “This is how Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek summarised the relationship between Europe and its Southeastern limb in a recent lecture series in Montenegro.
“Westerners,” continued Žižek, “showed all their ignorance in the Nineties when wars and massacres were taking place in the former Yugoslavia. They didn't understand that, with the regime falling, the Communist nomenclature sought to legitimise its power and, for this very reason, it had started to befriend nationalism and foster conflict."
Despite the past, however, Žižek is convinced that the European perspective is good for the Balkans.
“Many friends of mine, so-called leftist radicals, are against the EU. They see it just as a tool of capital to impose its standards and faster get rid of the welfare state...that may be true, yet, unfortunately, we belong to Europe - whether in or out.
Actually, experience shows that, if you are out, the EU exploits you even more. How? By bringing in its polluting industries, violating environmental norms, exploiting your agriculture. This why staying out is not an option. The only option is to join the EU and try to create a sort of leftist coalition within it."
In his own way, the philosopher is a convinced European supporter. "I think that today's world needs Europe more than ever,” Žižek said. “We have two main models of civilisation: liberal America and Chinese authoritarian capitalism. I really couldn't live in a world where these are the only options. This is why we should fight for Europe within Europe, and certainly not stay out.”
How do you think Brussels' attitude towards the Balkans is changing? Is there more openness?
Certainly. Yet, the experience of the last decade shows that Europe, unfortunately, has not managed to rise to the challenge and become a more serious project. We do not yet know what it wants. The problem is that two countries, Germany and France, want to rule – this is not good. This is why I'm not completely optimistic. However, I believe that, for some geopolitical reasons, the Balkans are much better off now.
How do you see Serbia's future?
Serbia must decide for itself, not only in a strictly political sense such as with the acknowledgement of crimes in Bosnia for example, because the problem is much more serious. I think Serbia - and it's not alone – has not yet taken a stand for a modern Europe. There are still divisions and traumas; the struggle is not over yet. This is not only true for Belgrade. Unfortunately, even in other parts of Europe, nationalist populism is getting stronger, especially in xenophobic parties that are hostile to immigration. These political forces are going to become more and more integral parts of governments and this is Europe's darkest future.
And what do you think will be the future of Kosovo?
This is a difficult question. The situation is utterly irrational. Now I'll tell you something absurd. Maybe it would be better if Kosovo, with some kind of international coordination, joined Albania. In the long term, it would be the only rational solution because it is totally insane to have two states for one people. This is why I have always been sceptical about Pristina's independence. This was part of the US strategy for the region which, however – it turns out – is not able to solve the problem.
For example, my friends from Kosovo say that in the beginning they were very happy about independence, but then they had to build the Pristina-Tirana highway secretly because internationals are paranoid and don't want close links between Albania and Kosovo. This is the price for depending too much on the great powers. This is why I think the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo has not been solved yet. Obviously, in the short term, it was stabilised. It is better than war, yet there are no long-term plans for Bosnia and Kosovo.”
