Dual Migrations in Croatia: The Technopopulist Strains of Statebuilding in the New Borderlands of Europe

This article examines the technopopulist strains of statebuilding in Croatia, drawing on the history, language, and culture approaches in Slavonic studies. Through its exploration of EU migration governance in Croatia, the article discusses the dual migrations of citizens and non-citizens, namely the outward migration of Croatians and the inward migration of migrants and refugees from non-EU states. The article argues that Croatia is finding itself in a semi-peripheral relationship, reviving historical national concerns over its status as a militarized borderland - the antemurale of the EU. Croatia's experience has potential insights for other countries on international political fault lines such as Ukraine.