Croatia's ‘new’ national conservatives : the ‘Homeland movement’

Abstract

This article introduces the national conservative party of the Homeland Movement (Domovinski Pokret, DP). This is Croatia’s third largest party and, since 8 May 2024, a government partner to the (centre-right) Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). This article explores how the Homeland Movement draws inspiration from the longer trajectory of Croatian ethno-nationalism to legitimize its prerogatives and mobilize its support bases. It also seeks to determine whether there is something innovative or idiosyncratic about the party’s engagement in domestic and European politics. First, this piece introduces Croatia’s ‘Homeland War’ (1991–1995) as a master symbol of ethno-nationalist imageries. Then the empirical component concentrates on the Homeland Movement, its outlooks on identity politics in Croatia and Europe, its stance vis-à-vis the EU, and the bases of support. The Homeland Movement draws much of its inspiration from the ‘Homeland War’. However, the party embeds this symbolic capital into ‘pro-welfare’ proposals and an elaborate Eurosceptic platform. This resonates with the political values and aspirations of the party’s target groups. In all this, the Homeland Movement comes across as a predominantly national conservative party, comprising elements of ethno-nationalism, nativism, social conservatism, soft Euroscepticism, and malleable anti-establishment tones.