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Paradox of infrastructures’ influence on mobility in Gorski Kotar, Croatia

Central role in this paper play infrastructures in the mountainous region of Gorski Kotar in Croatia, a transit corridor connecting continental Central Europe and Adriatic Sea. Different infrastructures were built in three different states (Austrian- Hungarian Empire, socialist Yugoslavia and Republic of Croatia) and within three different social- economic systems. They have shaped settlements and people’s lives throughout history in the region. The changes are clearly associated with construction of the Louisiana road, constructed in the beginning of the 19th century, railway construction in 1873 and highway construction in 2004. Inevitably, one more infrastructure has to be considered, a dam from 1950’s that created the accumulation lake which flooded the villages and part of the Louisiana road. The paradox of infrastructures is shown in this paper ; while one brings prosperity and connection, the other does the opposite. Ethnographic research on the sense of belonging, changes in economy, seasonal migration and demographic data show the complexity of the matter, paradox, but also a projection to the future. Even though Louisiana road passes through two official counties and three culturally different regions, locals often identify with Louisiana road which shows how strongly is rooted in every local community alongside the road. Because of the Louisiana road, entire villages were created, settlements along the road flourished, different forms of economy emerged. Railway marked another step in the transformation of the region, made travel shorter and brought different forms of economy. Modern highway made seasonal migration possible, and in pair with natural beauties of the region, introduced life-style migration to the rural idyll (O’Reilly 2009), while completely destroying transit tourism. This diachronic approach complements the anthropological research in the region, employing theories of anthropology of infrastructures, space and place, collective memory, migration and power.

anthropology of infrastructures, region of Gorski kotar, village of Lokve, Mrzla Vodica, Louisiana road, railway, highway, dam, migration, collective memory

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