Europe and the Serbs (1804-1918): Impetuses and Temptations of the European Modernism

This project shall deal with a complex issue of interpenetration and mutual influences between developed European environments and Serbia as well as the entire Serbian people during 1804-1918. The development of Serbian society, establishment and progress of state’s institutions, forming and growth of cultural, educational and scholar institutions, the politics and parliamentary life were considerably influenced by the developed European environments, especially German, French, English and Italian on the one hand, and Russian on the other. The research conducted within the project’s frame would focus on several issues: the western European influence on forming of political and juridical institutions in Serbia; the British views and images on Serbia and the Serbs in the first half of 19th century; the Oriental heritage and Islam as parts of Serbian society in 19th and the beginning of 20th century; the Russian social and cultural as well as religious and philosophical prestige in the Serbian society in 19th century; the interests of French foreign policy, culture and economy for Serbia and its society; the American progressive movement and Serbia in the first decades of 20th century; the relations between Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Serbs in 19th century.