Paper short abstract:

Ordinary people, politicians and the media considered post-socialist transformations – both spontaneous and initiated – as forms of Europeanisation. The author shall discuss some examples of 'Europeanisation' – and 'counter-Europeanisation' – derived from his studies of popular music venues and scenes.

Paper long abstract:

Travelling through parts of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia may sometimes confirm the cliché of 'times that have been stopped' or stimulate different kinds of déjà-vu. Conserved forms of popular music in different Eastern-European popular music venues - old jazz or cabaret - may well confirm "backwardness" of the Eastern Europe. On the other hand, the kitsch pop culture from Eastern Europe, be it successful acts on the Eurovision Song Contest or various regional ethno-pop phenomena, e.g. turbo-folk, chalgia, arabesque, or polka, further confirm stereotype of "the East".

Even the ordinary people, not only politicians and media, from former socialist states, considered various forms of post-socialist liberalisation, privatisation and "mediasation" as forms of Europeanisation. Processes of "building a New Europe" were both spontaneous and initiated activities. After accession of the first Eastern-European countries to the EU, it is time to assess the processes of "transition" from various pints of view.

The author shall discuss some examples of "Europeanisation" - and "counter-Europeanisation" - in Poland, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, derived from his ongoing study of popular music venues and scenes.