Toursim and Leisure Cultures in Socialist Yugoslavia

Tourism and travel as leisure are significant social phenomena that developed from a culture of the elite into a mass phenomenon in the course of the 20th century. In Yugoslavia after World War Two, tourism catered not only to foreigners but became part of the way of life of many families. Domestic holidaymakers dominated the market. This project in historical anthropology aims to investigate the development of tourism and leisure cultures in the former Yugoslavia as social practices linked to urbanisation processes and the extension of free time in the 1960s and 70s. While there is a significant body of literature on leisure and holidaymaking as revealing aspects of `modern` societies in Western Europe, few studies exist on the social and cultural transformations connected to recreation in socialism. The case of Yugoslavia is particularly interesting on a number of points. Firstly, although communist discourse on a socialist way of life was powerful and shaped the everyday lives of citizens, the nature of the Yugoslav system allowed the population significant space in which to determine the personal sphere. Secondly, the history of everyday life in Yugoslavia during the socialist era remains underexposed despite the country`s exceptional position in the socialist world. Thirdly, the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia underlines the issue of national representation. On the one hand, the Yugoslav state communicated a narrative of national unity and growing prosperity, mediated also through the organisation of leisure. On the other, regional concepts of cultural heritage in the area of tourism came into conflict with socialist national ideology. The project intends to explore both tourism and leisure as a political project, as well as to record actual experiences of recreation and holidaymaking. Methods will include the analysis of official documents relating to tourism planning and social policies. In addition, material and visual culture associated with new leisure practices will be read in order to explore issues from consumption to changing social relations. Biographical narrative will contribute a differentiated view on practices of pleasure and entertainment and the coding of new norms and values. The exploration of leisure cultures and tourism is expected to broaden the current scholarly perspective on modernity and citizenship in late 20th century Europe.

Tourism and travel as leisure are significant social phenomena that developed from a culture of the elite into a mass phenomenon in the course of the 20th century. In Yugoslavia after World War Two, tourism catered not only to foreigners but became part of the way of life of many families. Domestic holidaymakers dominated the market. This project in historical anthropology aims to investigate the development of tourism and leisure cultures in the former Yugoslavia as social practices linked to urbanisation processes and the extension of free time in the 1960s and 70s. While there is a significant body of literature on leisure and holidaymaking as revealing aspects of `modern` societies in Western Europe, few studies exist on the social and cultural transformations connected to recreation in socialism. The case of Yugoslavia is particularly interesting on a number of points. Firstly, although communist discourse on a socialist way of life was powerful and shaped the everyday lives of citizens, the nature of the Yugoslav system allowed the population significant space in which to determine the personal sphere. Secondly, the history of everyday life in Yugoslavia during the socialist era remains underexposed despite the country`s exceptional position in the socialist world. Thirdly, the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia underlines the issue of national representation. On the one hand, the Yugoslav state communicated a narrative of national unity and growing prosperity, mediated also through the organisation of leisure. On the other, regional concepts of cultural heritage in the area of tourism came into conflict with socialist national ideology. The project intends to explore both tourism and leisure as a political project, as well as to record actual experiences of recreation and holidaymaking. Methods will include the analysis of official documents relating to tourism planning and social policies. In addition, material and visual culture associated with new leisure practices will be read in order to explore issues from consumption to changing social relations. Biographical narrative will contribute a differentiated view on practices of pleasure and entertainment and the coding of new norms and values. The exploration of leisure cultures and tourism is expected to broaden the current scholarly perspective on modernity and citizenship in late 20th century Europe.