Not many writers in the world have the kind of relationship with their own country as the one that Orhan Pamuk has with Turkey. Murat Belge states that this is the result of dynamics in Turkish society.
Many communities in Southeast Europe do not feel represented by any of the ‘official’ cultures. Elka Agoston-Nikolova explains the transitory nature of the ethnic identity of the Pomak minority in Bulgaria, by analysing their folk songs.
Vijf eeuwen Osmaanse overheersing op de Balkan worden vaak gezien als een onderbreking van de Europese geschiedenis. Raymond Detrez betoogt dat de negentiende-eeuwse hervormingen in het Osmaanse Rijk juist de Europeanisering van de Balkan versterkten.
