The Western Balkans have experienced numerous traumas that have prejudices and perceived differences among its inhabitants. Due to the overemphasis on one’s nationality to the point of die-hard nationalism, a large part of the population regards a European identity with skepticism. By contrast, belonging to a supranational community like the European Union is regarded as personally enriching by many EU citizens. Surveys show that only twelve percent of EU citizens associate the EU with a loss of cultural identity. The notion of a common European identity does not constrain one’s own identity but complements it.

With its social media format “Mostograditelji” (Bridge Builders), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom gives a voice to celebrities and influencers who authentically share their positive experiences about life in the EU with people in the Western Balkans and beyond.

Celebrities are attributed great credibility in public discourse. Moreover, quite a lot of public figures are also people who appreciate cosmopolitanism as something that adds to their identity. FNF’s human-interest series “Mostograditelji” (“Bridge Builders”) collects testimonials from various personalities with a Western Balkan background. For the first season, Serbian-Austrian actress Edita Malovčić, former head coach of the German national basketball team Emir Mutapčić, and Gianni Jovanović, co-host of “Drag Race Germany”, share their experiences of living in multicultural European societies and explain how this has had a positive impact on their own identity.

“Mostograditelji – Bridge Builders” opens up new perspectives not only for people in the Western Balkans, but also for citizens in Germany and elsewhere: focussing on the celebrities’ “Balkan identity”, viewers get to know a completely new facet of the person they know from German TV or social media, and thus question concepts of identity and stereotypes. Moreover, particularly in a region like the Western Balkans that is yet to integrate into a unified Europe, it is of paramount importance to break open the inward-oriented societies and to educate citizens about the positive and unifying aspects of a European identity. Stay tuned for more!