Popular votes and independence for Montenegro

Abstract

The question of Montenegrin identity-as a nation, as a people-has been under discussion for centuries. The State gained its independence in 1878, became a Kingdom in 1910, but was integrated into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918. After this integration, the population was divided between the supporters of independence and those in favour of very close cooperation with Serbia, potentially as far as integration. After the breakup of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, Montenegro first stood with Serbia, but in the context of a growing international isolation due to the nationalistic politics of Slobodan Miloševič, in the 1990s there was again a growing trend towards national independence. The EU and the US openly rejected the evolution of yet another independent state on the Balkan peninsula, but finally had to accept a referendum on this question. For the acceptance of the result, however, a quota of at least 55% of the votes being in favour of independence was required by the EU. In spite of bitter resistance by the pro-Serbian faction, this requirement was met with a 55.5% majority of the votes cast in the referendum on May 21,2006, and two weeks later Montenegro became an independent state again.