Yugo-nostalgia

Yugo-nostalgia is a little-studied psychological and cultural phenomenon occurring among citizens of the former Yugoslav republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. While its anthropological and sociological aspects have been clearly recognized, the term, and the corresponding epithet "Yugo-nostalgic", is commonly used by the people in the region in two distinct ways: as a positive personal descriptive, and as a derogatory label.

“I never wanted an independent Bosnia. I wanted Yugoslavia. That is my country.” — Emir Kusturica.

“ On the steps outside a special exhibition examining the Tito years via posters, artworks, artefacts and the recorded memories of “common people”, I met 18-year-old Milos Tomcic wearing the hat and scarf of the “pioneers”, the Yugoslav socialist youth movement. “I wanted to see a picture of that time,” he said, when I asked why he had come. “It was a great time. Everyone loved each other.” Did he consider himself Serbian or Yugoslavian? “Yugoslavian,” he replied, without hesitation. “My mum is Serbian, my dad Montenegrin, my grandma Croatian. Actually, my family is from all over Yugoslavia.”