Can Croatia face its past?

Croatia’s Reckoning: Echoes of the Past in the Present. In July 2025, an enormous crowd—about half a million people—gathered in Zagreb for a concert by Croatia’s most controversial singer, a performer whose music is steeped in patriotic themes but also associated with hardline nationalist views. What truly captured international attention wasn’t just the size of the event, but the chilling resurgence of fascist-era chants and gestures among segments of the audience. The incident reignited a long-standing debate about Croatia’s ability, or willingness, to confront its wartime history. Croatia’s past, like that of many nations, is marked by dark chapters. The memories of its fascist puppet state during World War II, infamous for the horrors of the Jasenovac extermination camp, continue to cast a shadow. While official statements have denounced the crimes of the Ustaše regime, there remains an undercurrent of ambivalence in public life. Elements of fascist symbolism sometimes surface in contemporary events, and certain nationalist narratives find space in popular culture and politics. The country’s complex history—a tapestry woven from medieval kingdoms, centuries under foreign empires, and the turbulent formation and dissolution of Yugoslavia—has shaped its modern identity. The wounds of war and ethnic conflict, from World War II through the brutal independence struggle of the 1990s, are still fresh for many. In the aftermath of independence, nationalist fervor often blurred with a problematic nostalgia for the past, complicating efforts to build a forward-looking, inclusive democracy. The recent concert in Zagreb brought these tensions into sharp relief. While some insisted that only a few individuals were responsible for the fascist slogans, the presence of such a large crowd and the apparent indifference—or even subtle endorsement—by officials sent a troubling message. Critics, both within and outside Croatia, questioned how a nation that is a member of the European Union could allow such displays to persist, raising concerns about the normalization of extremist sentiment. On one hand, many ordinary Croats are deeply uncomfortable with these reminders of a darker era and reject any attempts to glorify fascism. On the other, the persistent reluctance of some leaders to unequivocally condemn these incidents suggests unresolved issues in how the country deals with its historical legacy. In a time when the far right is gaining ground across Europe, the spectacle of mass gatherings tinged with extremist nostalgia resonates far beyond Croatia’s borders, highlighting the ongoing struggle between confronting the past and shaping a democratic future.