30 March 2026
Out of Bounds
A planned homecoming for Croatia’s handball team in Zagreb escalated into a constitutional dispute when the national government overrode the city’s refusal to host a controversial nationalist singer. What followed was not only a conflict over local authority, but a test of the constitutional limits on state power. At the same time, symbols tied to Croatia’s fascist past resurfaced at the center of public celebration, backed by political actors. The episode exposes how quickly legal boundaries and historical consensus can come under strain. Continue reading >>
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13 June 2024
Legitimizing Heresy through Law
In the heart of Europe, a troubling commemoration persists. On May 18, Croatia observed a remembrance day that honors the memory of those killed in Bleiburg in 1945 – a group that included members of the Ustasha movement, a Nazi collaborationist faction during WWII. Established by law, this memorial day controversially depicts Ustasha as fighters for Croatia’s freedom and independence. Such a narrative not only distorts historical facts but dishonors the memory of the victims of Ustasha atrocities. Additionally, it affirms values contrary to the country’s Constitution and fails to align with international standards on memorialization and the EU politics of memory. Continue reading >>29 November 2021