45 Years of Serbian Studies : A Short History of the Journal

Abstract: This paper offers an overview and analysis of the significance of the Serbian literary and cultural journal Serbian Studies , published in English since 1980 in Washington, DC, by the North American Society for Serbian Studies. It is the official publication of an association of Serbian intellectuals in the American diaspora, founded in 1978 with the aim of advancing research and promoting identity-based knowledge about Serbian literature, history, and culture. Its membership covers a broad academic network of scholars in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, specializing in Slavic, Balkan, and Eurasian studies. After reviewing different stages in the journal’s history and development—the 1980s and 1990s—we draw attention to important turning points in its editorial policy, as well as to its role in acquainting American and international audiences with Serbian literature and culture. Special focus is given to works in literary history and literary theory published in the journal. Alongside the analysis of Serbian Studies , we also highlight the importance of its initiator—the North American Society for Serbian Studies in Washington, DC—and of its publisher, Slavica Publishers.