Mythology and Politics – The Case of Kosovo

Abstract

This article deals with a specific semiotic connection established between mythology and politics that can be helpful in terms of explaining and understanding a very complex semiotization of Kosovo in South Slavic cultures. Focusing on semiotic pragmatics and cultural autocommunication, the study examines how Kosovo was transformed into a sacred symbolic sign and a crucial cultural defense mechanism against Ottoman colonial trauma. This semiotic process developed across oral epic cycles, artistic codes, and political discourse, establishing a firm temporal border in collective memory. The author analyzes a poetic definition of Kosovo offered by Matija Bećković – “Kosovo is the most expensive Serbian word”, because in politics, just like in mythology, everything is about words and their meaning, and not about facts. Mobilized by ecclesiastical and nationalist authorities, this sacred sign generates intense emotional and defensive reactions toward Alterity. Consequently, the paper argues that any durable political solution in the Balkans must acknowledge this complex mythological phenomenon rather than treating Kosovo as a purely geopolitical territory, lest uncritical political manipulation ignite renewed conflict.