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"Pilgrimage Capital" and Bosnian Croat Pilgrimage Places: Bosnian Croat Pilgrimages and Transnational Ties through Time and Space

In this chapter the author focuses on three Bosnian Croat pilgrimage sites: Kondžilo, Bobovac, Podmilačje ; and the material manifestation of pilgrimage capital through the construction of new sanctuaries and the creation of new pilgrimage places based on their pilgrimage potential. These processes require strong institutional economic and political effort as well as the mobilization of pilgrims. The author discusses how the ’pilgrimage capital’ of Bosnian Croat pilgrimage places is being ’profitably’ used to bring together at least once a year those who are visiting their ‘homeland’ and also how it contributes to the struggle by Bosnian Croats for survival in a religiously and politically divided Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, he shows how pilgrimage capital generated at different pilgrimage places is being put to use in order to contribute to local and national economic and political benefit. According to the author the concept of pilgrimage capital encourages us to focus on how these different agents have drawn on cultural, economic and political resources for their particular benefit and helped to develop particular pilgrimage places. It points to the power struggles surrounding such places, as well as the resources used by groups and individuals for their own benefit. It enables us to see more clearly how a particular place can become more prominent and compete more effectively with other pilgrimage sites and, thereby, directly enhance the economic status of local communities and/or an individual’s social position. As a result of political, identitarian, economic and demographic crises caused mainly by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), previously local or regional sites and pilgrimage places that did not even exist before the war are being transformed into pilgrimage capital. This capital works to attract displaced people at least once a year back to their homeland, maintain transnational ties and demonstrate the presence of Bosnian Croats in the local political landscape. Pilgrimage capital is produced through the construction and re-construction of sanctuaries, increasing numbers of pilgrims, stronger transnational ties, the creation of historical transnational ties, and political influence, with implications for the survival of Bosnian Croats in Bosnia.

Bosnian Croats, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage Capital, Political Economy, Migration, Transnational Connections

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