A homeland in pieces: the problem of borders in Goran Vojnović’s Yugoslavia, My Fatherland

Abstract

The article addresses the interrelations between physical and identity boundaries in Goran Vojnović’s novel Yugoslavia, My Fatherland. The aim of the study is to show how the protagonist’s crossing of boundaries influences the shaping of his sense of belonging and otherness, as well as how symbolic identity boundaries can reinforce or generate physical barriers. The analysis is based on a qualitative interpretation of the text, employing narrative and thematic analysis, which allows for an in-depth understanding of various aspects of the issue based on the content of the book and the work of other scholars in literature and social geography. The results indicate that physical and identity boundaries coexist and mutually reinforce each other, affecting the individual’s future fate. The conclusions emphasize the importance of understanding these mechanisms for analyzing boundaries in contemporary literature and social spaces.