Dr Lidija Vujačić, Anthropologist and Artist
The diaspora nurtures its roots but also follows the changes of contemporary society
Dr Lidija Vujačić is a university professor, cultural theorist, artist, and writer. She specialises in socio-cultural anthropology, with a focus on popular culture, the media, and consumerism, as well as the ethnology of Montenegro. She is the author of seven books, co-author of eleven academic monographs, and has published dozens of scholarly papers, essays, and articles.
As a painter, she developed the concept of “visual anthropology” – a unique synthesis of art and science. Born in Podgorica, she studied in Belgrade and pursued professional training in Berlin and Graz. Today she lectures at the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Montenegro.
What ties the diaspora most strongly to its homeland?
The bond is always powerful and emotional. People abroad preserve their identity and tradition, nurture nostalgia, but also maintain family, friendship, and economic connections. They often support their families and the state, yet they also expect backing from institutions that can reinforce these ties.
Which dimensions of this bond are the most important?
The relationship between the diaspora and the homeland is complex: emotion, culture, and practical interests. Our country can harness this diversity in cultural, tourism-related, and ecological terms, and people abroad often recognise this even more clearly. At the same time, globalisation brings new challenges to identity, making it crucial to brand the country through ecology, culture, tradition, and sport.
Which values does the diaspora most often carry with it?
A blend of traditional collectivist and modern individualist values. In collective memory, the homeland represents a community where the individual belongs to both family and collective, ready to make sacrifices. Values such as honour, heroism, and hospitality are intensely felt, and sometimes even idealised, within the diaspora.
Are customs still preserved?
Yes, they are passed on to younger generations – from religious holidays and wedding traditions to the role of godparenthood and rituals. They endure in both a symbolic and identity-related sense, adapted to contemporary ways of life.
Are there differences between generations?
Of course. Younger generations integrate more easily into their new environment and often perceive tradition more as folklore, while older generations remain tied to collectivist patterns and emotional narratives. Both maintain their connection with the homeland, though in different ways.
Does modernisation bring the diaspora closer to the homeland or create distance?
Modernisation transforms tradition but does not erase it. It opens up new perspectives. Tradition is important, but rigid traditionalism can be an obstacle. The most important task is to preserve heritage while at the same time connecting it with contemporary values.
Which tradition endures the longest?
Spiritual culture – customs, beliefs, folklore – proves more resilient than material culture. In the diaspora, distance often intensifies the need to preserve identity. The greatest challenge and value lies in synergy: merging the traditional and the modern into a new, vital cultural whole.