The socio-political significance of socially engaged music in post-Yugoslav spaceMarković, Ana (Avtor) Velikonja, Mitja (Mentor) Hofman, Ana (Komentor) post-Yugoslav spacesocially-engaged musicpost-conflictpost-socialistsocio-political transformationsocial movementsThis thesis examines the socio-political significance of socially engaged music in contemporary Croatia, situating it within the wider post-Yugoslav context. It explores how such music articulates political critique and social reflection in post-conflict and post-socialist societies marked by the transition from socialism to capitalism. The study covers the period from 1995 to the present, a time defined by profound political, economic, and cultural transformation. The research draws on social movement theory, identity construction, and socio-political transformation frameworks, adopting a constructivist epistemological approach to analyse how these concepts intersect within socially engaged music. The thesis conceptualizes socially engaged music as a genre shaped by post-war disillusionment with political elites and expanding over time to address a wide range of socio-political and cultural issues. Methodologically, the study combines qualitative content analysis of 80 songs by 11 musicians with 29 semi-structured interviews, seven with musicians, 21 with audience members, and one with a record label representative. The analysis identifies three dominant thematic areas: critique of institutional corruption; negotiations of identity, gender, and power in the space between tradition and transition; and critique of neoliberal individualism and consumer culture. Musicians describe their work as reflexive, advocacy-oriented, or contextually embedded, and the findings reveal a generational shift from direct critique to irony, satire, and humour. Audiences engage with socially engaged music primarily through intellectual reflection rather than activism, valuing its vocabulary for expressing shared frustrations. The research also highlights the role of socially engaged musicians in rebuilding cultural ties across post-Yugoslav borders through cross-regional collaboration, festivals, and digital platforms. While socially engaged music’s transformative potential is context-dependent, the findings show that it serves as a subtle yet meaningful cultural infrastructure for social reflection and connection. The thesis contributes to understanding how music mediates post-conflict cultural negotiation, offering insight into its capacity to foster solidarity, dialogue, and critical engagement.A. Marković20252026-01-07 08:30:04Doktorsko delo/naloga177772UDK: 316.42:78(497.5)(043.3)VisID: 191318COBISS_ID: 264265731sl