Sustainability of Rural Settlements Below 500 Inhabitants in a Srem District Case Study (Northern Serbia)

In recent decades, younger generations have rapidly been leaving the countryside and agriculture, reflecting the demographic and sociological processes of contemporary society. In addition to depopulation, as the process of emptying the rural areas, one of the most significant structural changes in the rural population is deagrarization, the abandonment of agriculture as a main occupation. After the 1991 Census, later than most European countries, the globalization of society and the growth of nonagricultural professions put the Republic of Serbia in place with a majority of the urban population (about 51%), and further declining trend of rural inhabitants. Regardless of the positive geographical location, the process of negative demographic conditions did not bypass the Srem district. Of the total number of rural settlements, 46% have fewer than 1,000 while 18 settlements have fewer than 500 inhabitants, and the population is mostly elderly with an average age of 48.66 years (Republic of Serbia, 42.2). This imposes the task of the research, as a theoretical basis for the necessary development of agriculture and rural areas (agrarian and rural development), whose foundations lie in demographic development, with a complex population policy of returning to the countryside and finding hidden potential within the settlements as adequate secondary activities in the economic market. The paper covers a comparative analysis of municipal data in the Srem district in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Northern Serbia). Many changes have taken place on the socio-political stage since the late 20th century, which have manifested on the demographic scene, and the topic follows the period of the past few decades. The survey methodology is based on the demographic and statistical analysis of the 1971 to 2011 Censuses, shown by municipal results

Depopulacija Hrvata u Vojvodini i predlozi za zaštitu hrvatskog nacionalnog identiteta

U radu je analizirana veličina populacije Hrvata u Vojvodini, prema Popisima 1991., 2002., i 2011. godine. Iz popisa u popis, taj broj se smanjuje. Postavlja se pitanje: Kako zaštititi i očuvati njihov identitet? Kako postići da se veličina populacije Hrvata na ovom prostoru ne smanjuje u budućnosti? Neki od predloga za očuvanje postojeće populacije Hrvata u Vojvodini i Srbiji jesu veća zastupljenost u strukturama vlasti, kao i veća participacija u ostvarivanju manjinskih prava

Seasonality and Characteristics of Marriages in Sremska Mitrovica

Marriage is a socially acceptable institution in which biological and socio-cultural components interact. One of the most important features of marriage is seasonality because different factors affect the time of entering into marriage, which is the primary subject of this research, analyzed on the example of the settlement Sremska Mitrovica. In agrarian societies, natural conditions were mostly between key factors that influenced the date of entering into marriage. Religion was often the deciding factor of seasonal marriage because of the limitation of dates in which it was allowed, because of religious holidays and periods that were preceded by religious holidays. The goal of this research is to highlight and notice specific trends, marital norms and patterns, the seasonality of marriage as well as to connect those changes with historical, political, economical, cultural and social contexts. Data were obtained from marriage registers (1900-2011) in Sremska Mitrovica. The characteristics of marriage in Sremska Mitrovica in the period from 1900 to 2011 were changing under the influence of historical and demographic heritage as well as the factors mentioned which also affected the seasonality of marriage in this period. In the observed period of 112 years, the highest percentage of marriages are made during autumn, in November

Visitors' attitudes regarding the possibilities for further development of the “Srem Folk Fest”

Since its foundation in 2004, the ‘Srem Folk Fest’ is oriented towards promoting the local culture and tradition of the host city, Sremska Mitrovica, and its surroundings. It is organized in specific environment, or more precisely within the excavations of the ancient city of Sirmium. According to the venue and its content, this event might be characterized as multicultural outdoor spectacle, visited by 20,000 participants every year, throughout the four festival evenings. In 2015, the ‘Srem Folk Fest’ became a part of International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF), which imposes a top standards in organizing festivals. It is also important to note that this year, the ‘Srem Folk Fest’ will be supported by Serbian National Commission for UNESCO, on the basis of the fact that this event is oriented towards preserving the intangible cultural heritage, important for wider social community. Since its foundation in 2004, this event became the well-known brand of the city and it hosted a large number of young people, not only from Europe, but also from Asia, Africa, South America, Central America. The main task of this paper is to identify potentials for repeating the visits of those who already participated in this event, but also to find ways for improving the quality of the current offer, in order to provide adequate promotion of the city and surrounding rural area. The research was conducted on the basis of the survey regarding the visitors’ attitudes on the current quality of this event, but also regarding their proposals for improving its content. Collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS statistical software. In addition to theoretical contribution, the research results might also serve as a basis for improving the event organization according to the visitors’ needs and their expectations. Besides that, results might also find a practical implication in terms of providing the basic information necessary for expanding this event within the surrounding area of Sremska Mitrovica

Attitudes of local population in Sremska Mitrovica towards Sirmium cultural Tourism and heritage

Cultural tourism presents the movement of people caused by the cultural attractions outside their usual place of residence, with the intention to collect new information and experience in order to satisfy their cultural needs. As such, the cultural tourism is one of the selective types of tourism, and is directed to meeting the specific needs related to tourist culture. Sremska Mitrovica was built on the former site of Sirmium, one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire. This paper will be based on tourist movements of local people which are focused on the cultural sites and objects and historical heritage of their hometown. We assume that a small percentage of the local population visited sites and objects of cultural and historical heritage and cultural institutions in Sremska Mitrovica. The aim of the paper is to encourage local residents to visit museum, gallery, theater, more frequently, as well as other sites and objects of cultural and historical heritage in Sremska Mitrovica. The survey was conducted through an electronic survey. The research methodology is based on the descriptive and statistical processing and data analysis using SPSS 20 software

Student’s perceptions of bilingual teaching of geography: A case study – the Republic of Serbia

As our classrooms become more heterogeneous due to migration, education, geography and bilingualism have become the creators of international needs. Through a closed-ended questionnaire we sought to examine quantitative information about the advantages of teaching geography bilingually. With this research we studied 5 secondary schools in Serbia where geography was presented bilingually. The lack of similar research and the freshness of this learning model led us to the subject for the article, which is based on revealing the motives and preferences of students for this type of teaching. Using comparison with standard teaching in the mother tongue as method, the interest of students in bilingual teaching was determined. We also investigated the possibility of applying didactic-methodical principles for organising study without time limiting learning. A certain number of students found language competencies, more diversity in the teaching process and significant individual work activities as a step towards academic and personal achievement – almost as an employment advantage. This justifies the aim with our study by emphasising the benefits and the need to study geography bilinguall

CAN POPULATION POLICY MEASURES ADDRESS AND PROMOTE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SERBIA: A CASE STUDY OF VOJVODINA (NORTHERN SERBIA)

One of the greatest social and development problems in Serbia is the rapidly decreasing rural population (depopulation of rural areas) that exceeds the level of decrease in the agricultural population and the total population of the country. One of the measures of the population policy of the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is precisely a measure that promotes the return of young people to rural settlements, while also promoting rural development in Vojvodina and Serbia. Young people are increasingly leaving rural areas to seek a better quality of life, villages demographics are empty, lagging behind in economic development, and it remains difficult for the elderly population to survive in such conditions. For five years in a row, the Vojvodina Government has been allocating funds for the purchase of houses in rural areas for young married couples. The Country House Purchase Programme is one of the most current incentive programmes implemented by the Gender Institute. The aim of the paper is to determine the relations between this population policy measure and its role in rural development and rural revitalization. One of the main tasks is related to the question – can rural development be encouraged through the arrival of families in Vojvodina rural areas, and should this measure be applied in the coming years? The methodology is based on analysis of data obtained from the Provincial Department of Social Policy, Demographics and Gender Equality referring to public invitations and activities in recent years. The analysis included data on the number of couples, the settlements where the houses were located, the funds allocated, and the conditions that couples had to meet in order to obtain a home. Regarding the demographic and developing trends, it could be significant to promote and implement this measure in other parts of Serbia, especially in southern and eastern Serbia

Perceptions of “Srem Folk Fest” Participants According to Cultural Tourism Preferences

"Srem Folk Fest" has become one of the most popular and significant international folklore festivals in this part of the Balkans since 2004. For the past 16 years, a town Sremska Mitrovica was a host city for European, Asian, South American and African youth. Besides its historical importance, this town on the Sava river could also be considered as the promoter of culture, tradition and folklore of its guests. Each year, the artistic stylization of folklore stage is accompanied by about 20000 visitors during the four festival nights. In 2015, "Srem Folk Fest" was added to the calendar of events of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF). The Festival is also recognized by the Serbian National Commission for UNESCO as the keeper of the intangible cultural heritage. One of the main tasks of the paper is related to the need of considering potential and participants' intentions to repeat their visit, as well as of improving the offer and promotion of the town and its surroundings. The aim of the paper is to analyze the data obtained in the context of the behavior and preferences of participants/respondents, to determine the specificity of their role and thus to make a recommendation for creating even better offer. Considering the respondents from 10 countries, the result is especially significant in the form of improving the image of Serbia, as well as their preferences for getting to know rural areas and cultural features. The study contains the survey research, while gained results might provide a good basis for further organization in accordance with their expectations. In addition, the results could also find practical implication in terms of providing basic information necessary to expand this event within the surrounding area of Sremska Mitrovica