The book before you is the fruit of many years of work and summarizes all the experiences gained from the previous five monographs published by the author of the book, Dr. Marija Đorić. The entire focus of the monograph is placed on the so-called Western Balkans, which is different from Europe. The moment in which this book is being created is marked by tectonic political events. The war in Gaza that threatens to ignite the entire Middle East (and beyond), the conflict in Ukraine that is a world war (in miniature), the reshaping of the geopolitical structure of the world, the creation of a new value system and a great polarization in which We and They exist in the form of archenemies.
Guided by all these events, the author decided to conduct a regional and local analysis of the phenomenon of extremism and hooliganism, in order to shed at least a brief light on the "dark vilayets" of the Balkans. Since it is impossible to act like a desert island in contemporary international relations, Dr. Marija Đorić often draws parallels with Europe and the rest of the world. Today, in the era of globalization, we are more connected than ever, and this is best seen in the example of extremism that knows no borders and is becoming a “worldwide” phenomenon. That is why the author decided to point out all the pitfalls and obstacles that researchers (at the beginning of their careers) who want to study extremism and hooliganism could face. Studying extremism is like “searching for the Holy Grail”. Only the persistent and those who have faith (in themselves and their knowledge) can persevere on this path of uncertainty.
Many sensitive issues are raised in this monograph: the return of terrorists from the battlefield, the gender dimension of extremism, the radicalization of vulnerable groups, the emergence of coronavirus, the issue of mental health. A special segment of the book is dedicated to hooliganism, as a relatively new phenomenon, because it (officially) only emerged in the 20th century, although violence in sports (and in connection with sports) is a primordial companion of the human species. Hooliganism in the Western Balkans is specific in that it is connected with steel chains to certain political circles, and this gives it infinite regenerative power. There has been much debate about whether hooliganism in the Balkans is a form of extremism (primarily referring to the extreme right). Today, hooliganism in our region is much less extremism and much more organized crime, which is a very important change during its decades-long genesis.;
Finally, readers can also see an unusual case study from history through the analysis of "Sokol" and "Mlada Bosna" and the correlation of sports and politics.
"The Balkans. Extremism. Hooliganism. It's like we're talking about the Bermuda Triangle, ready to swallow anything that comes close. To prevent that from happening, we need to get to know it well."
