Traces of Norbert Elias in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: A Figurative Analysis of the Collapse of Yugoslav Identity

In this study, the process from the foundation of Yugoslavia to its collapse was examined by considering Norbert Elias’s figurations. Yugoslavia serves as evidence of how accurate Elias’s figurations are in the context of states. It also signifies the delicate balances inherent in these figurations. Yugoslavia stands as proof of how the disruption of balance in figurations can lead to undesirable outcomes. In this context, Elias’ definition of four figurations was applied to the case of Yugoslavia, and a figurative answer was sought for the reason for the collapse of Yugoslav identity. The way different nations came together and the factors influencing this union were examined within the framework of Elias’s “survival unit”. Yugoslavia’s disintegration was exemplified by the figuration of the survival unit. As known, in Yugoslavia, an effort was made to establish a “we” among different nations coming together, but since every nation couldn’t abandon the “I” mentality, this endeavour proved unsuccessful. The cooperation of different nations for survival, how this cooperation process functioned, and the fact that nations continued to compete despite all cooperation were evaluated within the framework of the “cooperation and competition balance” figuration. The “involvement and detachment figuration”, exemplified by a football match in Yugoslavia, serves as a compelling example of this balance.