Serbian–Montenegrin unionism () is a socio-political movement which arose in the

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

after the

breakup A relationship breakup, breakup, or break-up is the ending of a Interpersonal relationship, relationship. The act is commonly termed "dumping omeone in slang when it is initiated by one partner. The term is less likely to be applied to a ma ...

former Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...

. It advocates

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

being in a

political union A political union is a type of political entity which is composed of, or created from, smaller politics or the process which achieves this. These smaller polities are usually called federated states and federal territories in a federal gove ...

with

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

. The relationship between ethnic

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...

and

Montenegrins Montenegrins (, or ) are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common ancestry, culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Montenegrins are mostly Orthodox Christians; however, the population also includes ...

is generally identified as being the most amicable of all the peoples of the former Yugoslavia. According to a 2023 national census which enumerated a population of 623,633, some 32.9% or 205,370 Montenegrin citizens ethnically identified as "Serb", with 2,969 (<1%) identifying as "Serbian-Montenegrin" or "Montenegrin-Serbian".

History

Brotherhood between the states of Montenegro and Serbia is long-standing. In the

19th century The 19th century began on 1 January 1801 (represented by the Roman numerals MDCCCI), and ended on 31 December 1900 (MCM). It was the 9th century of the 2nd millennium. It was characterized by vast social upheaval. Slavery was Abolitionism, ...

, Montenegro and Serbia were officially recognized as independent states by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. The two entities since shared all essential experiences; they fought as part of the

Balkan League The League of the Balkans was a quadruple alliance formed by a series of bilateral treaties concluded in 1912 between the Eastern Orthodox kingdoms of Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, and directed against the Ottoman Empire, which still ...

when it came to ending the Ottoman presence in

Rumelia Rumelia (; ; ) was a historical region in Southeastern Europe that was administered by the Ottoman Empire, roughly corresponding to the Balkans. In its wider sense, it was used to refer to all Ottoman possessions and Vassal state, vassals in E ...

during the

First Balkan War The First Balkan War lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and involved actions of the Balkan League (the Kingdoms of Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Greece, Greece and Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegro) agai ...

, and they fought alongside each other against

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

and the

German Empire The German Empire (),; ; World Book, Inc. ''The World Book dictionary, Volume 1''. World Book, Inc., 2003. p. 572. States that Deutsches Reich translates as "German Realm" and was a former official name of Germany. also referred to as Imperia ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Plans for unification were finally partially implemented after the war. The

Podgorica Assembly The Great People's Assembly of the Serb People in Montenegro (), commonly known as the Podgorica Assembly (, ), was an ''ad hoc'' popular assembly convened in November 1918, after the end of World War I in the Kingdom of Montenegro. The commit ...

in November 1918 concluded the decision to merge the

Kingdom of Montenegro The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe, present-day Montenegro, during the tumultuous period of time on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Officially it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolu ...

with the

Kingdom of Serbia The Kingdom of Serbia was a country located in the Balkans which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Principality was ruled by the Obrenović dynast ...

, followed by the

creation of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia was a State (polity), state concept among the South Slavs, South Slavic intelligentsia and later popular masses from the 19th to early 20th centuries that culminated in its realization after the 1918 collapse of Austria-Hungary at th ...

. The Montenegrin monarchy was thereby removed, and opposition to the annexation culminated in the

Christmas Uprising The Christmas Uprising (), also known as the Christmas Rebellion (, ), was a failed uprising in Montenegro led by the Greens in early January 1919. The military leader of the uprising was Krsto Popović and its political leader was Jovan Plame ...

during 1919 in which a part the Montenegrin population demonstrated against the Serbian takeover. When Yugoslavia was reformed after World War II, Montenegro became a republic alongside a Serbian entity reduced in size. When in 1991 and 1992, the remaining outstanding Yugoslav republics voted for independence, Montenegro chose to continue a federation with Serbia as Yugoslavia ("Serbia and Montenegro" after 2003). After 1996, Montenegro—led by rebel and former pro-unionist

Milo Đukanović Milo Đukanović (, ; born 15 February 1962) is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023, previously serving in the role from 1998 to 2002. He also served as the Prime Minister of Montenegro (1991–19 ...

—reversed its direction and began taking measures to distance itself internally from Serbia and discontinue its role within the federation. This sentiment, which grew popular among the Montenegrin nation, led to the 2006 independence referendum which ended in a majority vote for independence (55.5% of the vote, with the threshold for approval of independence set at a supermajority of 55%).

Political parties in Montenegro that support unionism

Parliamentary parties: *

New Serb Democracy New Serb Democracy (NSD), officially abbreviated as NOVA, is a Serbian nationalist right-wing political party in Montenegro, formed on 24 January 2009 as a merger between Serb People's Party and the People's Socialist Party of Montenegro. Since ...

(national conservative, 9 MPs) * Democratic People's Party (populist, 4 MPs) *

United Montenegro United Montenegro (, UCG) is a conservative political party in Montenegro. Party founder and de facto political leader is Goran Danilović, former Minister of Interior Affairs in Government of Montenegro. History The United Montenegro was founded ...

(factions, conservative, 1 MP) Non-parliamentary: * Free Montenegro (right-wing populist) * Democratic Party of Unity (national conservative) *

Democratic Serb Party The Democratic Serb Party () is a minor conservative political party in Montenegro, representing the Serbs of Montenegro. History The Democratic Serb Party was formed in 2003 following a split from the Serb People's Party led by Božidar Bojovi� ...

(christian democratic) * Popular Movement (factions, populist/conservative) Formerly: *

Democratic Party of Socialists Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

(1990–1997) * Socialist People's Party (1997–2006) Defunct: * People's Party (1990–1998, 2001–2017) *

Party of Serb Radicals Party of Serb Radicals (, SSR), formerly Serbian Radical Party of Montenegro (SRS CG), was a minor far-right and Serbian nationalist political party, active in Montenegro. History The SSR was formed by the former members of Serbian Radical Party, ...

(1991–2020) * Serb People's Party (1998–2009) * Yugoslav United Left in Montenegro (1994–2001) * People's Socialist Party (2001–2009) *

Democratic Centre of Boka Democratic Centre of Boka () is a former minor Serb nationalist political party in Montenegro. The party was based in the coastal town of Herceg Novi. The party was led by Dejan Ćorović. At the municipal elections held in Montenegro on 6 April ...

(2009–2014) * Serb List (Party) (2012–2020)

References

Sources

* *

History

Political parties in Montenegro that support unionism

See also

References

Sources

Further reading