Gendered Violence in Croatia: A Critique of The Political Economy

Jana Kujundzic^*

• Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

This paper critiques the understanding of gendered violence solely through the lens of recognition politics without addressing the politics of redistribution in post-conflict, post-socialist Croatia. Based on in-depth expert interviews with members of the judiciary, police, social welfare organisations, feminist NGOs, and women's shelters, the paper highlights issues within the legal and social welfare systems through a Marxist-feminist lens. Since the 1990s, following Croatia's war, privatisation and transition period, the social security nets and workers' rights and protections have been systematically eroded. Simultaneously, legal reforms and international conventions on victims' protections were incorporated into the Croatian legal system, often driven by EU-funded civil society projects. However, the state's systemic underfunding of health, education and social welfare systems undermines meaningful efforts to tackle gendered violence. The argument that combating gendered violence is inextricably linked to the broader struggle against exploitation in capitalism is made through examination of three interconnected themes. First, by critiquing the imperative of work in capitalism for the survivors of gendered violence. Second, by exemplifying the costs of reporting abuse and engaging with the legal system, including the issue of access to welfare and care services. Third, by problematising the special status of war veterans in the Croatian society and the connection to gendered violence.