Montenegrins (people)

Montenegrins are closely related to the Serbs in history, language, religion and ethnic origin, although they enjoyed a distinct state from other Serbs during the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans. Numerous historical documents confirm that Montenegrins have always had a Serbian ethnic identity. However, since 1945, an ethnic identity of Montenegrins, as a people distinct from the Serbs, has been fostered by the Communist régime in Yugoslavia. Support for such an idea in Montenegro has been dropping since, from 90% in 1948 to 62% in 1991 to 40% in 2003. For detailed overview of these trends, see Demographic history of Montenegro. After the fall of Communism, the idea has been taken over by independence-minded Montenegrins, who are supported by the large Muslim and Catholic minorities, because their links to the Orthodox Serbs are weak. A number of Montenegrins live in Serbia, and still maintain Montenegrin lore, family ties and tribal affiliation; they could not have been said not to be Montenegrins, yet at censa they declare themselves mostly as Serbs. Some have risen to high cultural, economic and political positions and are widely known as Serbs while few know that they are Montenegrins; for example, even Slobodan Milosevic is a Montenegrin, the first generation of his family to live in Serbia.

See also

\n* Serbs\n* Montenegrin language

External link

\n* Njegos.org Culture and History of Montenegro\n* Current Events and Studies Category:Ethnic groups