Garčević Joins Panel on Ethnic Tensions in Montenegro
On June 16, 2021, Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, participated in an event hosted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) on the rise of ethnic tensions in Montenegro and how to reduce them.
The event, titled “15 Years of Independence: Montenegro’s Past and Present Challenges with Ethnonationalism,” representatives of have presented the findings and recommendations of a White Paper by the same name about the rise of nationalism and populism in Montenegro. Following the presentation of the research, Garčević and other panelists discussed this pressing issue and how to potentially resolve it.
In his remarks, Garčević states that the divisions among Montenegrins are the product of different views of Montenegrin identity, which give rise to different attitudes towards values, especially civic values and the understanding of Montenegro’s place in modern Europe. He went on to say it is necessary to change the policy across several social domains to turn the tide of nationalism, including: history teaching and the reconsidering the past (commemoration/remembrance); new type of education that will nurture respect for diversity and minority groups; and, new value orientation.
A recording of the event can be viewed below.
During his diplomatic career, Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He had been a Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as a Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about Ambassador Garčević on his faculty profile.