Marijan Premović

The main characteristic of the Montenegrin political scene is its geopolitical duality; while one part of the society is oriented towards the West, another part is aligned with the East. When analyzing the causes, the post-communist period is most often observed, starting from the early 1990s. However, in order to better understand the division of Montenegrin society, it is necessary to conduct much deeper historical analysis. Thus, the paper examines different forms of geopolitical duality of Montenegro from Middle Ages to the contemporary era. Throughout this historical period, a line was drawn which shows that this geopolitical duality has deep roots extending through various epochs of Montenegrin history. The comprehensive analysis given in this paper is supported by a significant number of historical facts, upon which a reflection on historical division in contemporary politics is made. Although the geopolitical duality exists from the Middle Ages, the form that appears during the Petrović Njegoš dynasty has strong influence nowadays and can be considered as counterpart of duality in Montenegrin modern political era. This approach greatly facilitates the understanding of the divisions within Montenegrin society and could be a good basis for defining policies that can significantly reduce these divisions over time. Keywords: Geopolitical duality; Montenegro; historical continuity; political identity..

In 1986, archaeological research was carried out at the Monastery of St. George in Beska Gorica (or Brezovica), built on a small island near the southern shore of Lake Skadar at the end of the fourteenth century. The research was not published, but in this paper, we used some of the documentation compiled at that time and the preserved archaeological material. Also, the paper includes a brief overview of the results of the research done at the monastery lodgings and two outbuildings, as well as part of archaeological findings of Italian- and Spanishmade pottery ranging from the late fourteenth to the end of the sixteenth century.

This article investigates the indispensability of religious material culture for identity processes during times of surveillance and persecution under Albania’s communist regime, especially after 1967, under conditions of intensified anti-religious frenzy. The significance of materiality in underground spirituality is investigated through two case studies. After outlining the methodological design of this study and its theoretical principles grounded on the Identity Process Theory, we delineate the historical background in which religious communities and individuals found themselves vis-à-vis their religious identities during 1967–1990. Then, we comparatively study two inconspicuous religious artefacts alongside their stories and the people who preserved and used them. Through these two cases, we strive to demonstrate how surveillance and prosecution mobilize identity processes that often act in dissidence to the political establishment by looking at how communication and memories associated with visual, material religious objects emit emotions and affection.

In this article, Montenegro’s political, social, and economic structure starting from the period when it came under Ottoman domination until the year 1697 was examined. The aim is to clarify a number of controversial issues regarding Ottoman rule in Montenegro. In this context, it demonstrates the administrative system applied in Montenegro under Ottoman rule and the effect of this system on the country, employing Ottoman archives, chronicles, and other literature. The importance of the study lies in the clarification of these controversial issues by using Turkish and Montenegrin sources together.

The aim of the study was to gather information necessary for the examination of the river Ćehotina water quality as well as the air pollution in the urban area of Pljevlja (far north of Montenegro), from 2011 until 2018. The water quality of the Ćehotina River was observed by the Water Quality Index (WQI) method, based on ten physicochemical and microbiological parameters from five hydrological stations. In order to examine the air quality, we used data on the concentration of the PM₁₀ particles from the station located in the center of Pljevlja. The obtained results of river water quality indicate that the situation was disturbing (bad quality dominates). The results of the air quality analysis indicate that the situation has been alarming and Pljevlja itself as a “hot spot” of Montenegro. Annual, seasonal and daily mean concentrations of PM₁₀ particles were above the prescribed limit values, except during summer. Sources of pollution were mostly known, and in order to protect public health, it is necessary to take appropriate measures as soon as possible, primarily the introduction of modern exhaust gas treatment technology TPP ‘‘Pljevlja’’ and construction of a heating plant that would replace numerous individual (home) fireplaces in Pljevlja.

During the centuries of Ottoman rule the Tara and Lim river valleys (or Potarje and Polimlje respectively), the Pešter Plateau and Old Herzegovina saw much turbulence, wars, rebellions, population migrations. This chaotic situation was combined with the arbitrary and repressive conduct of local Ottoman feudal lords. Migrations, interethnic contacts and mixing of populations as well as an intensified Islamization process caused by a number of factors greatly complicated the situation. Albanian northward penetration along the Lim and into Pešter as well as the expansion of the Vasojevići tribe into the Upper Lim valley added to the complexity of the ethnic and demographic picture of the region. Perpetual rebellions against the Otto­man occupation eventually led to the liberation of the Serbian Orthodox population of these areas.