Introduction
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G E O G R A P H Y:
Montenegro is a small southeastern European country slightly smaller than Connecticut, located between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia. The country's name means "black mountain" and refers to the dark coniferous forests on Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area. Montenegro is bordered by five countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia.
The terrain of Montenegro is comprised of a highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plains, backed by rugged high limestone mountains, and plateaus. The Mediterranean climate of Montenegro ensures hot dry summers and autumns, and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland.
H I S T O R Y:
During the first half of the 7th century, Slavic people migrated to what is now present day Montenegro. In 1042, the principality of Duklja gained its independence from the Byzantine Empire, leading to the crowning of Mihailo Vojislavljević as king in 1077.
In the late 12th century, the principality of Duklja became a part of the State of Nemanjić, which would later become the Empire of Serbia. During the middle of the 14th century, however, Duklja became an independent state called Zeta (later Montenegro) under the Balšić Dynasty. Zeta maintained its independence until falling under Ottoman rule in 1496.
From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro maintained a unique form of autonomy within the Ottoman empire, securing de facto independence in 1697. Following this development, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by bishop princes until 1852 when it transformed into a secular principality. In 1878, at the Congress of Berlin, Montenegro was officially recognized as an independent sovereign principality.
After fighting on the side of the Allies in World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
Following the end of World War II, Montenegro became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which consisted of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia dissolved in 1992, at which point Montenegro federated with Serbia, forming the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2003, Serbia and Montenegro abandoned the name Yugoslavia and became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2006, the state union between Serbia and Montenegro was severed, following a successful referendum vote for independence initiated by Montenegro. Montenegro became an independent nation (once again) on June 3, 2006. As of December 2008, Montenegro is a European Union (EU) candidate country. Montenegro became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on June 5, 2017.
Montenegro is a small southeastern European country slightly smaller than Connecticut, located between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia. The country's name means "black mountain" and refers to the dark coniferous forests on Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area. Montenegro is bordered by five countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia.
The terrain of Montenegro is comprised of a highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plains, backed by rugged high limestone mountains, and plateaus. The Mediterranean climate of Montenegro ensures hot dry summers and autumns, and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland.
H I S T O R Y:
During the first half of the 7th century, Slavic people migrated to what is now present day Montenegro. In 1042, the principality of Duklja gained its independence from the Byzantine Empire, leading to the crowning of Mihailo Vojislavljević as king in 1077.
In the late 12th century, the principality of Duklja became a part of the State of Nemanjić, which would later become the Empire of Serbia. During the middle of the 14th century, however, Duklja became an independent state called Zeta (later Montenegro) under the Balšić Dynasty. Zeta maintained its independence until falling under Ottoman rule in 1496.
From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro maintained a unique form of autonomy within the Ottoman empire, securing de facto independence in 1697. Following this development, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by bishop princes until 1852 when it transformed into a secular principality. In 1878, at the Congress of Berlin, Montenegro was officially recognized as an independent sovereign principality.
After fighting on the side of the Allies in World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
Following the end of World War II, Montenegro became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which consisted of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia dissolved in 1992, at which point Montenegro federated with Serbia, forming the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2003, Serbia and Montenegro abandoned the name Yugoslavia and became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2006, the state union between Serbia and Montenegro was severed, following a successful referendum vote for independence initiated by Montenegro. Montenegro became an independent nation (once again) on June 3, 2006. As of December 2008, Montenegro is a European Union (EU) candidate country. Montenegro became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on June 5, 2017.
P O L I T I C S:
From the end of World War II until 1992, Yugoslavia was a communist federation. From 1991 to 1992, Solvenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia declared secession from the Yugoslavia federation amidst civil war. By 1992, the only Yugoslavic countries that remained united were Serbia and Montenegro, which formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2003, Serbia and Montenegro became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, until declaring independence from each other in 2006.
Today, Montenegro is a parliamentary republic headed by a President and Prime Minister. There are three branches of government in Montenegro: the Executive (President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet), the Legislative (Unicameral Assembly or Skupstina), and the Judicial (Supreme Court or Vrhovni Sud and Constitutional Court or Ustavni Sud).
From the end of World War II until 1992, Yugoslavia was a communist federation. From 1991 to 1992, Solvenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia declared secession from the Yugoslavia federation amidst civil war. By 1992, the only Yugoslavic countries that remained united were Serbia and Montenegro, which formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2003, Serbia and Montenegro became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, until declaring independence from each other in 2006.
Today, Montenegro is a parliamentary republic headed by a President and Prime Minister. There are three branches of government in Montenegro: the Executive (President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet), the Legislative (Unicameral Assembly or Skupstina), and the Judicial (Supreme Court or Vrhovni Sud and Constitutional Court or Ustavni Sud).
GIACOLETTI, WINTER 2018