BENJAMIN PERASOVIÆ (Zagreb, Croatia)

Techno Tribes in Croatia

In comparison with the "classic" western story about youth subcultures, countercultures or "alternative scene", history of urban tribes in Croatia presents similarities and differences. While the difference between western capitalism and ex-Yugoslav socialism in the 70s and 80s justifies "jungle and zoo" theory of Gregor Tomc, the power of the "silent majority" and cultural conflicts in ex-Yu are more similar to western experience and the theory of "moral panics".

Techno tribes in Croatia originated in the beginning of war, 1991/92. The first phase is characterised by the problems "within" the scene, mainly with the actors of the rock-culture. In the second phase, the development of the techno scene itself caused first differences based on money and "underground vs. commercial" approach. The third phase is characterised by mass raves, by techno as a new youth movement, and by "moral panic" in the society. The repression and hysteria against techno was the introduction to the recent phase - the crisis.