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Plaksin D.A. [Slavic Muslim of the Balkans: historical roots and contemporary self-identification of the Bosniaks] World of Science. Series: Sociology, Philology, Cultural Studies, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 2. Available at: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/11SCSK225.pdf (in Russian).

Slavic Muslim of the Balkans: historical roots and contemporary self-identification of the Bosniaks

Plaksin Dmitry Andreevich
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: 1347m@bk.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0451-6755
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=1221732

Abstract. The relevance of this study stems from the growing interest in the ethnogenesis of the Bosniaks as a unique Slavic Muslim community within the context of Southeast European history. The novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive analysis of historical, religious, and political factors that have influenced the formation of Bosniak identity, including controversial aspects such as the «Bogomil theory» and «borderland Orientalism». The aim of the research is to trace the evolution of Bosniak identity from the Ottoman period to the present, identifying the key stages and mechanisms of its transformation. The methodology includes a historical-comparative analysis of archival data, Ottoman registers, population censuses, as well as the study of cultural narratives and contemporary media discourses. The results show that Bosniak identity was shaped under the influence of religious conversion to Islam, the policies of the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungary, and Yugoslavia, as well as the nationalist movements of the 20th century. The official recognition of «Muslims» as a nationality in 1968, and the transition to the term «Bosniaks» in 1993, reflect a complex shift from religious to national self-identification. The conclusions emphasize that the Bosniaks represent a dynamic example of ethnogenesis, wherein religion, politics, and cultural heritage intertwine to form a resilient identity that remains significant within both European and Islamic contexts. Further research is recommended to involve a deeper analysis of folklore and archival sources.

Keywords: Bosniak; identity; Islam; Muslim; Bogomil; nation; religion; ethnogenesis

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