ZAGREB ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - "Bosnian Croats - An Essay About the Agony of a European-Oriental Microculture" (an unofficial translation) is the title of the latest book of writer and essayist Ivan Lovrenovic, which was presented in
Zagreb on Friday.
ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - "Bosnian Croats - An Essay About the Agony
of a European-Oriental Microculture" (an unofficial translation)
is the title of the latest book of writer and essayist Ivan
Lovrenovic, which was presented in Zagreb on Friday. #L#
The promotion of the book was organised by the "Vlado Gotovac"
Institute and the Sarajevo-based International Forum "Bosna".
Reviewing the book, Professor Ivo Banac said Lovrenovic's latest
work analysed the ups and downs of Bosnian Croats, with the author
always under the impression of their modern-history inability to
realistically assess their own position, possibilities and real
interests.
Banac said the book originated from a thorough criticism of
Tudjman's notion of integral Croathood which brought Bosnian
Croats on the verge of destruction in 1990s.
Lovrenovic seeks a different paradigm for the future of Croats in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and sees the solution in the Franciscan
tradition which finds strength in weakness, Banac stressed.
Essayist Josip Sentija believes that the basic message of the book
is pessimistic, as the author claims that Bosnia faces political
disappearance and that Bosnian Croats are in the process of
decline.
To prevent it, one condition should be met, Sentija said.
The condition is that Croats should shed "the old national-churchly
formula and the phantom of integral Croathood" and accept "an
emancipated, lay civic culture relying on individuality and
personal freedom rather than some variants of collectivist
ideologies - class-motivated, religious or national."
The book was published by the Zagreb-based "Durieux".
(hina) ms sb