Peripheral Empire, Internal Colony: Yugoslav National Pavilions at the Paris World Exhibitions in 1925 and 1937

Abstract

National pavilions of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia at the Paris World Exhibitions in 1925 and 1937 were conceived to represent the new state and its culture as both prosperous and authentic. Elaborated exhibition policy comprised substantial set of values and a sharp distinction of opposed cultural entities―one central and progressive, the other peripheral and traditional―which reflected permanent ties of Yugoslav elites to ideological heritage of culture of imperialism. Thus, architectural identity of the Yugoslav pavilions, selection of the artifacts displayed and, primarily, relation with their Bosnian “internal satellites” are symptomatic examples of particular ideology that otherwise shaped societal, political and economic structure of the first South Slavic state.