Raspopovic: Seven Decades Jubilee of Work of the Historical Institute of the University of Montenegro Recorded publishing Projects and Awards Confirm
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The beginning of scientific historiography of Montenegro is related to the establishment of the Historical Institute on July 3rd, 1948, Radoslav Raspopovic, PhD, the Chairman of the Historical Institute of the University of Montenegro said.
‘’Basics of institutional study in Montenegrin past, or foundations of scientific vertical of continuous research of identity values of Montenegrins are set then’’, Chairman Raspopovic said.
We were talking with him about more than 70 years of existence and celebration of this jubilee, on July 3rd this year, foundations of the Historic Institute of the University of Montenegro, publishing activity, scientific research work and cooperation on international level.
UoM: What is the basis of seven decades long work of the Historical Institue of the UoM?
RASPOPOVIC: Institutional development of historical science of Montenegrin people begins with Decree of the Government of Montenegro by the establishment of the Institute, on July 3rd, 1948. .. Tasks of the Institute are precisely defined by the decree of the Government: ‘’to research the structure of historical and scientific significance of all events from the political, social, economic, and cultural life of Montenegrin people, out of the past to the present day, that all written works, documents and monuments from all these areas collect, collate, examine and study with the appropriate application of scientific methods in order to spread the scientific thoughts, giving the proper thoughts and raise the scientific staff’’.
For the Institute, work guidelines from the mentioned Regulations were managing principle of all scientific activities organized and implemented in this oldest scientific institution in Montenegro during the seven decades of existence.
UoM: From this time distance, how were the scientific beginnings of the Historical Institute and how is the significance of the Institute today?
RASPOPOVIC: Although modest scientific potential, which, at the time of establishment, the Institute disposed, led by the first Chairmen: Niko Simov Martinovic, Jagos Jovanovic… during the following period of work, the Institute has contributed to the constitution of other scientific and higher education institutions: the beginnings of work od Montenegrin Academy of Science and Art, as well as certain faculties, some university units today, such as the Faculty of Economics in Podgorica or the Faculty of Philosophy in Niksic.
Meager scientific staff, that Institute had after establishment, however, managed to actively contribute to the publication of journal ‘’Istorijski zapisi’’ (Historical Records) and published 18 special publications on 3,600 pages during the first 10 years.
Therefore, the Institute has continuously met the initial targets proclaimed in the memorandum of association since its establishment, during the decades of work. Thanks to that, the results of the study of the history of Montenegro and Montenegrin people, without previously scientific tradition, may be considered as a major contribution to the better understanding of social life and overall historical heritage of Montenegro.
According to that, if we evaluate the importance of the Historical Institute from this time distance, then we can say that its establishment, together with the initiation of the journal ‘’Istorijski zapisi’’ (Historical Records), represented a crucial moment in the foundation of historical science in Montenegro and constitution of modern Montenegrin historiography.
UoM: The Institute cooperates with the large number of foreign scientific institutions, and the Cooperation Agreement with the Historical Institute of Saint-Petersburg of the Russian Academy of Science was recently signed. What does this cooperation represent for you?
RASPOPOVIC: Since establishment, the Institute had had cooperation with large number of foreign institutions, either in the form of official international cooperation or on the basis on the establishment of personal scientific contacts. The number of foreign institutions with which the Historical Institute of the UoM cooperates, particularly increased in 2006 with the independence of Montenegrin state. That resulted with the fact that, except with traditional partner institutions, the Institute has now established scientific cooperation with almost all European counties.
When the word is about the recently signed Agreement with the Institute of Saint-Petersburg RAN, we consider that it represents a step forward in the sense of inclusion and cooperation of the Institute with new scientific partners. The Institute mentioned has a long tradition and it represents the unit in the RAN Institute system. Given the importance of studying the Russian-Montenegrin relations in the past and now, a large number of archived documents and rare literature (this Institute possesses more than 27,000 units of archived documents), surely, this is the opportunity for beginning of scientific cooperation on new joint scientific research projects, with new topics from the field of relations between two countries.
UoM: At 14th International Podgorica Book and Education Fair, the Historical institute of the UoM is awarded for publishing project for the book ‘’Berlinski ugovor 1878’’ (Berlin Contract 1878)…
RASPOPOVIC: The importance of the project implemented by the Historical Institute and its quality level shows the fact that in the last twenty years the Institute won the large number of honors and awards, four of which were for ‘’Izdavacki poduhvat’’ (Publishing project). One of the awards we won on the Belgrade Book Fair 1998, and three on International Podgorica Book Fairs. The award for 14th International Podgorica Book Fair we got the edition of ‘’Berlinski ugovor 1878’’(Berlin Agreement 1878). The book is published on the occasion of 140th anniversary of the Berlin Congress 1878 and the first independence of Montenegro. As other our releases that have been awarded so far, we consider the mentioned award very important from the point of confirming the correctness and good scientific work, and thus certainly as the motivation to continue with this way in the future.
UCG: Poznato da je Istorijski institut organizuje brojna predavanja eksperata na međunarodnom nivou. Kakav je značaj ovih predavanja?
UoM: it is known that the Historical institute organizes numerous lectures on international level. What is the importance of these lectures?
RASPOPOVIC: The Institute implements numerous bilateral international projects involving higher level of mobility of researchers between partner institutions through the Competition of line ministries in Montenegro. Apart from being employed in the Historical institute during the last years, either by invitation or participation in scientific conferences, were able to announce the results of their scientific work, so the large number of foreign colleagues, staying in our institution, through lectures, discussions and debates in Historical Institute significantly raised the total quality of scientific work in it. The exchange of experiences with scientific workers from other scientific centers, is always valuable for the design of new ways of cooperation and define possible directions of future, joint and scientific research work.
UoM: The Library of the Historical Institute of Montenegro possesses about 40.000 books that in addition to scientific workers of the Historical Institute of Montenegro and associates, use cultural and public workers and students…
RASPOPOVIC: The Historical Institute of Montenegro has strived to provide all necessary scientific literature and keeps archive material necessary for its work since establishment. The Library of the Historical, primarily shortcut character, magnified by time, given the number of units of the book fund, which, according to the current revision, may count about 60.000 of special editions, scientific periodicals and printed journals. Many publications from the central register of the library fund, except they have antique value, they represent a rare editions. Although it has the status of the ‘’closed type’’ library, library funds with archive materials that library has, are unavoidable for all those who deal with the history of Montenegrin people. It may be said proudly for the editions that are in the Library of the Historical Institute and other libraries in Montenegro and outside, registered as scientific papers of their employed, and the Institute as publishing house.
UoM: To what extent, in your opinion, the Historical Institute of the UoM impacts on training and improvement of scientific staff?
RASPOPOVIC: Considering the multidisciplinarity of scientific projects implemented by the Historical Institute we may say for all those who worked there, primarily, the Institute ‘’was school’’ for training and development of their own staff. Furthermore, in one short period, organizing of master undergraduate studies, the Institute gave the practical contribution to the creation of new scientific research personnel, necessary, not only for the work of the Institute, but also for the study of other social sciences in Montenegro.