Difference between revisions of "Croatia" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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'''This article is claimed for Mike Butler and will be imported when he is ready to begin. Thank you. Mary Anglin 05-29-2007'''
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{{Infobox Country or territory
 +
|native_name              = ''Republika Hrvatska''
 +
|local_name              = ''Hrvatska''
 +
|conventional_long_name  = Republic of Croatia
 +
|common_name              = Croatia
 +
|image_flag              = Flag_of_Croatia.svg
 +
|image_coat              = Croatian_Coat_of_Arms.svg
 +
|image_map                = Europe_location_CRO.png
 +
|map_caption              = {{map_caption |region=[[Europe]] |legend=European location legend en.png}}
 +
|national_anthem          = ''[[Lijepa naša domovino]]''<small><br/>''Our beautiful homeland''</small>
 +
|official_languages      = [[Croatian language|Croatian]]{{smallsup|1}}
 +
|capital                  = [[Zagreb]]
 +
|latd=45| latm=48| latNS=N| longd=16| longm=0| longEW=E
 +
|largest_city            = capital
 +
|government_type          = [[Parliamentary republic]]
 +
|leader_title1            = [[Presidents of Croatia|President]]
 +
|leader_name1            = [[Stjepan Mesić]]
 +
|leader_title2            = [[Prime ministers of Croatia|Premier]]
 +
|leader_name2            = [[Ivo Sanader]]
 +
|established_event1      = Founded
 +
|established_date1        = {{nowrap|First half of [[7th century]]}}
 +
|established_event2      = [[Medieval Croatian state|Medieval duchy]]
 +
|established_date2        = [[March 4]] [[852]]
 +
|established_event3      = Independence
 +
|established_date3        = [[May 21]] [[879]]
 +
|established_event4      = Elevated to [[Kingdom of Croatia|kingdom]]
 +
|established_date4        = [[925]]
 +
|established_event5      = Union with [[Croatia in the union with Hungary|Hungary]]
 +
|established_date5        = [[1102]]
 +
|established_event6      = {{nowrap|joined [[Croatia in the Habsburg Empire|Habsburg Empire]]}}
 +
|established_date6        = [[January 1]] [[1527]]
 +
|established_event7      = Independence from [[Austria-Hungary]]
 +
|established_date7        = <br/>[[October 29]] [[1918]]
 +
|established_event8      = [[SFR Yugoslavia]] seceded
 +
|established_date8        = <br/>[[June 25]] [[1991]]
 +
|area_rank                = 126th
 +
|area_magnitude          = 1_E10
 +
|area                    = 56,542 <!--56,414 land, 128 water and 33,200 sea—>
 +
|areami²                  = 21,831 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
 +
|percent_water            = 0.2
 +
|population_estimate      = 4,555,000
 +
|population_estimate_year = July 2007
 +
|population_estimate_rank = 115th
 +
|population_census        = 4,437,460
 +
|population_census_year  = 2001
 +
|population_density      = 81
 +
|population_densitymi²    = 208 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
 +
|population_density_rank  = 109th
 +
|GDP_PPP_year            = 2007
 +
|GDP_PPP                  = $68.21 billion
 +
|GDP_PPP_rank            = 70th
 +
|GDP_PPP_per_capita      = $15,355 (2007 estimate) [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2007/01/data/weorept.aspx?pr.x=21&pr.y=2&sy=2007&ey=2006&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914%2C946%2C137%2C962%2C122%2C181%2C124%2C963%2C138%2C918%2C964%2C182%2C968%2C960%2C423%2C935%2C128%2C965%2C936%2C961%2C939%2C184%2C172%2C132%2C134%2C174%2C144%2C944%2C186%2C178%2C136%2C112%2C941&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= IMF]
 +
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank  = 53rd
 +
|Gini                    = 29
 +
|Gini_year                = 2001
 +
|Gini_category            = <font color="#009900">low</font>
 +
|HDI_year                = 2004
 +
|HDI                      = {{increase}} 0.846
 +
|HDI_rank                = 44th
 +
|HDI_category            = <font color="#009900">high</font>
 +
|currency                = [[Croatian kuna|kuna]]
 +
|currency_code            = HRK
 +
|time_zone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
 +
|utc_offset              = +1
 +
|time_zone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
 +
|utc_offset_DST          = +2
 +
|demonym                  = [[Croat]](s)<br />[[Croatian]](s)
 +
|cctld                    = [[.hr]]
 +
|calling_code            = 385
 +
|ISO_3166-1_alpha2        = HR
 +
|ISO_3166-1_alpha3        = CRO
 +
|ISO_3166-1_num          =
 +
|vehicle_code            = HR
 +
|alt_sport_code          = CRO
 +
|aircraft_code            = 9A
 +
|footnote1                = Also [[Italian language|Italian]] in [[Istria County]] and languages of other national minorities ([[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]], etc.) in residential municipalities of the national minorities.
 +
}}
 +
'''Croatia''' ({{lang-hr|Hrvatska}} {{Audio|Republika_Hrvatska.ogg|listen}}), officially the '''Republic of Croatia''' (''Republika Hrvatska''), is a country at the crossroads of the [[Mediterranean]] and  [[Central Europe]].  Its [[capital city|capital]] is [[Zagreb]]. Croatia shares land borders with [[Slovenia]] and [[Hungary]] on the north, [[Serbia]] on the east, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] on the south and east, and [[Montenegro]] on the south, as well as a sea border with [[Italy]] to the west. It is a [[enlargement of the European Union|candidate]] for [[EU member states|membership]] in the [[European Union]] and [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]].
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
{{main|History of Croatia}}
 +
[[Image:Satellite image of Croatia in September 2003.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Satellite image of Croatia]]
 +
The [[Croats]] settled in the Balkans in early 7th century along with Serbs and formed two principalities: [[Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]]. The establishment of the [[Trpimirović dynasty]] ca 850 brought strengthening to the Dalmatian Croat Duchy, which together with the Pannonian principality became a Kingdom in 925 under [[King Tomislav]].
 +
 
 +
In 1102, Croatia was politicly absorbed by the [[Hungarian Kingdom]]. After the 1526 [[Battle of Mohacs]] the "reliquiae reliquiarum" of Croatia became a part of the [[Habsburg Monarchy]] in 1527.
 +
 
 +
Serbia libareted them during First World War from Austria and it became part of the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]], from 1918-1929, and [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]], from 1929-1941.
 +
 
 +
In 1941-1945 an Axis puppet-state known as the [[Independent State of Croatia]] was set up, which preformed ethnic cleaning of Serbs, gypsies and other non-croatian people, and after the victory of the [[Allies of WWII|Allies]], Croatia became a constitutive republic of [[SFRY|Yugoslavia]].
 +
 
 +
In 1991 Croatia declared independence, and a [[Croatian War of Independence|long and bloody war]] was fought (originally between the Croatian government and the Yugoslav People's Army), and then mutating into a conflict between independent Croatia and the Serbs which lived in Croatia, with the support of Serbia proper. The war ended with a Croatian victory andthe fleeing of most of the Serbs from their homes in Croatia to refugee camps in Serbia in [[1995]].
 +
 
 +
== Geography ==
 +
[[Image:Map-of-Croatia.png|thumb|left|300px|Map of Croatia]]
 +
{{main|Geography of Croatia}}
 +
Croatia is located in [[Southern Europe]]. Its shape resembles that of a crescent or a horseshoe, which flanks its neighbours [[Serbia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[Montenegro]]. To the north lie [[Slovenia]] and [[Hungary]]; [[Italy]] lies across the [[Adriatic Sea]]. Its mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around [[Neum]].
 +
 
 +
Its terrain is diverse, including:
 +
* plains, lakes and rolling hills in the continental north and northeast (Central Croatia and [[Slavonia]], part of the [[Pannonian plain]]);
 +
* densely wooded mountains in [[Lika]] and [[Gorski Kotar]], part of the [[Dinaric Alps]];
 +
* rocky coastlines on the [[Adriatic Sea]] ([[Istria]], Northern Seacoast and [[Dalmatia]]).
 +
 
 +
The country is famous for its many [[List of national parks of Croatia|national parks]].
 +
Croatia has a mixture of [[climate]]s. In the north and east it is [[continental climate|continental]], [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] along the coast and a semi-highland and [[highland climate]] in the south-central region. Offshore Croatia consists of over one thousand islands varying in size.
 +
 
 +
[[National Geographic]] Adventure Magazine named Croatia as Destination of the Year in 2006. [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0511/features/croatia.html]
 +
 +
*[http://youtube.com/watch?v=pwYyhciNC60&mode=related&search=/ national parks- part 1]
 +
*[http://youtube.com/watch?v=Owz7-Qd89m0&mode=related&search=/ national parks- part 2]
 +
 
 +
== Politics ==
 +
{{main|Politics of Croatia}}
 +
{{see also|Foreign relations of Croatia|Accession of Croatia to the European Union|International rankings of Croatia}}
 +
 
 +
Since the adoption of the [[1990]] [[Constitution of Croatia|Constitution]], Croatia has been a [[democracy|democratic]] [[republic]]. Between 1990 and 2000 it had a [[semi-presidential system]], and since 2000 it has a [[parliamentary system]].
 +
 
 +
The [[Presidents of Croatia|President of the Republic]] (''Predsjednik'') is the [[head of state]], directly elected to a five-year term and is limited by the Constitution to a maximum of two terms. In addition to being the [[commander in chief]] of the armed forces, the president has the procedural duty of appointing the Prime minister with the consent of the Parliament, and has some influence on foreign policy. His [[official residence]] is [[Predsjednički dvori]].
 +
 
 +
{{Croatia membership}}
 +
The [[Croatian Parliament]] (''Sabor'') is a [[unicameral]] legislative body (a second chamber, the "House of Counties", which was set up by the Constitution of 1990, was abolished in 2001<ref>http://www.sabor.hr/default.asp?jezik=2</ref>). The number of the Sabor's members can vary from 100 to 160; they are all elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The plenary sessions of the Sabor take place from January 15 to July 15, and from September 15 to December 15.
 +
 
 +
The [[Croatian Government]] (''Vlada'') is headed by the [[Prime ministers of Croatia|Prime minister]] who has two deputy prime ministers and fourteen ministers in charge of particular sectors of activity. The [[Executive (government)|executive branch]] is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of the republic. [[Government]]'s [[official residence]] is at [[Banski dvori]].
 +
 
 +
Croatia has a three-tiered judicial system, consisting of the [[Croatian Supreme Court|Supreme Court]], [[County Court|county courts]], and municipal courts. The [[Croatian Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]] rules on matters regarding the [[Constitution of Croatia|Constitution]].
 +
 
 +
== Counties ==
 +
[[Image:Plitvice lakes.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The [[Plitvice Lakes]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].]]
 +
[[Image:Dubrov.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Old Harbour at [[Dubrovnik]]'s Old City, a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].]]
 +
[[Image:Korana_Canyon.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Korana Canyon near [[Slunj]], 30&nbsp;km downriver from the [[Plitvice Lakes]].]]
 +
[[Image:Zadar - église Saint-Donat.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Zadar]], St. Donatus' Church, a pre-Romanesque church from the ninth century]]
 +
{{main|Counties of Croatia}}
 +
{{seealso|List of cities in Croatia}}
 +
Croatia is divided into twenty-one counties (''županija'') and the capital Zagreb's [[city district]] (in italics below):
 +
 
 +
{| style="background:transparent;"
 +
|width="20px"| || '''[[Anglicisation|Anglicized]] name'''  || '''Native name'''  </tr>
 +
|  1 || [[Zagreb county|Zagreb]]                          || Zagrebačka        </tr>
 +
|  2 || [[Krapina-Zagorje county|Krapina-Zagorje]]        || Krapinsko-zagorska </tr>
 +
|  3 || [[Sisak-Moslavina county|Sisak-Moslavina]]        || Sisačko-moslavačka </tr>
 +
|  4 || [[Karlovac county|Karlovac]]                      || Karlovačka  </tr>
 +
|  5 || [[Varaždin county|Varaždin]]                      || Varaždinska </tr>
 +
|  6 || [[Koprivnica-Križevci county|Koprivnica-Križevci]] || Koprivničko-križevačka </tr>
 +
|  7 || [[Bjelovar-Bilogora county|Bjelovar-Bilogora]]    || Bjelovarsko-bilogorska </tr>
 +
|  8 || [[Primorje-Gorski Kotar county|Primorje-Gorski Kotar]]{{spaces|2}} || Primorsko-goranska </tr>
 +
|  9 || [[Lika-Senj county|Lika-Senj]]                    || Ličko-senjska      </tr>
 +
| 10 || [[Virovitica-Podravina county|Virovitica-Podravina]] || Virovitičko-podravska </tr>
 +
| 11 || [[Požega-Slavonia county|Požega-Slavonia]]        || Požeško-slavonska  </tr>
 +
| 12 || [[Brod-Posavina county|Brod-Posavina]]            || Brodsko-posavska  </tr>
 +
| 13 || [[Zadar county|Zadar]]                            || Zadarska          </tr>
 +
| 14 || [[Osijek-Baranja county|Osijek-Baranja]]          || Osječko-baranjska  </tr>
 +
| 15 || [[Šibenik-Knin county|Šibenik-Knin]]              || Šibensko-kninska  </tr>
 +
| 16 || [[Vukovar-Srijem county|Vukovar-Srijem]]          || Vukovarsko-srijemska </tr>
 +
| 17 || [[Split-Dalmatia county|Split-Dalmatia]]          || Splitsko-dalmatinska </tr>
 +
| 18 || [[Istria county|Istria]]                          || Istarska          </tr>
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| 19 || [[Dubrovnik-Neretva county|Dubrovnik-Neretva]]    || Dubrovačko-neretvanska </tr>
 +
| 20 || [[Međimurje county|Međimurje]]                    || Međimurska        </tr>
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| 21 || [[Zagreb|City of Zagreb]]                          || Grad Zagreb    </tr>
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Economy ==
 +
{{main|Economy of Croatia}}
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Croatia economy is service based with service sector accounting for 67%  of total GDP.  
 +
Industrial sector is dominated by shipbuilding, food processing and chemical industry taking a significant portion of Industrial output.
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Croatia's largest companies are [[Agrokor]], [[INA - Industrija nafte|Ina]], [[Pliva]], [[Podravka]], HEP, Vindija and [[T-Hrvatski Telekom]]. 
 +
 
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Industrial Sector represents 27% of Croatia’s total economic output and agriculture represents 6%.
 +
 
 +
[[Agricultural]] sector in Croatia started to thrive in recent years; exports of blue water fish experienced a surge in demand especially from [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]]. Croatia is a strong producer of [[organic food]]s and much of it as of late is being exported to [[European Union|EU]] as are Croatian [[wines]], [[olive]] oils and [[lavender]].
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 +
[[Tourism]] is a notable source of income during the summer. With over 8.9 million foreign tourists in 2006 generating a revenue of over 7 billion euros, Croatia is ranked as eighteenth most popular tourist destination in the world.
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Trade is starting to play a major role in Croatian Economic Output.
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In 2006 Croatia exported goods in value of 10.4 U$ billion ([[FOB]]) (19.7 billion including service exports.
 +
 
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The estimated [[Gross Domestic Product]] per capita in [[purchasing power parity]] in 2006 was cca. USD 15500 or 48.9% of the [[European Union|EU]] average for the same year.
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 +
Croatian preliminary GDP data for 2007, puts Croatian GDP at 68,208 billion USD, or just over 15,355  USD per head ([[Real income]]) putting Croatia ahead of EU member-states Romania and Bulgaria. 
 +
 
 +
The Croatian economy is [[Post-Communism|post-communist]]. In the late [[1980s]], at the beginning of the process of economic [[transition]], its position was favorable, but it was gravely impacted by de-industrialization, war destruction as well as losing the markets of [[SFRY|Yugoslavia]] and the [[Comecon|SEV]].
 +
 
 +
Persistent economic problems still remain: [[unemployment]] (11.9% in 2006)<ref>http://www.hnb.hr/statistika/e-ekonomski_indikatori.htm?tsfsg=15127d5832d6ac210a43438afd2fc966</ref> and slow progress of economic reforms. Of particular concern is the heavily backlogged [[judiciary]] system, combined with inefficient [[public administration]], especially issues of land ownership. The unemployment is very high in eastern parts of Croatia ([[Slavonia]] and [[Dalmatia]]), reaching 20% in some areas, and relatively low in larger cities, [[Istria]], [[Kvarner]], [[Zagreb]]-area, being under 7%. Unemployment has been constantly declining by 5% over the last 7 years.<ref>http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/StatInfo/pdf/StatInfo2006.pdf</ref>
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 +
The country has since experienced faster [[economic growth]] and has been preparing for membership in the European Union, its most important [[international trade|trading partner]].
 +
 
 +
In [[February 2005]], the [[Stabilization and Association Agreement]] with the [[European Union|EU]] officially came into force and Croatia is advancing towards full EU membership. The country expects some major economic impulses and high growth rates in the coming years (currently Croatia suffers from high export deficit and considerable debt). Croatia is expecting a major boom in investments, especially [[Greenfield land|greenfield]] investments.
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 +
== Demographics ==
 +
[[Image:Split_from_Marjan.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Split]], the largest and most important city in [[Dalmatia]].]]
 +
{{main|Demographics of Croatia}}
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The population of Croatia has been stagnating over the last decade. The 1991&ndash;1995 war in Croatia had previously displaced large parts of the population and increased emigration. Some Croats who fled the country during the war are returning. The natural growth rate is minute or negative (less than ± 1%), as the [[demographic transition]] has been completed half a century ago. Average [[life expectancy]] is approximately 75 years, and the literacy rate is 98.5%.
 +
 
 +
Croatia is inhabited mostly by [[Croats]] (89.9%). There are around twenty minorities, [[Serbs]] being the largest one (4.5%) and others having less than 0.5% each. The predominant religion is [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]] (87.8%), with some [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] (4.4%) and [[Sunni Muslim]] (1.3%) minorities.
 +
 
 +
The official and common language, [[Croatian language|Croatian]], is a South [[Slavic language]], using the [[Latin alphabet]]. Less than 5% of the population cites other languages as their mother tongues.
 +
 
 +
== Culture ==
 +
{{main|Culture of Croatia}}
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Croatian culture is based on a [[Culture of Croatia#History|thirteen century-long history]] during which the country has attained many monuments and cities, which gave birth to a number of [[Culture of Croatia#People|historical figures]]. The country includes [[Culture of Croatia#Places|six World Heritage sites and eight national parks]]. Among a list of [[List of Croatians|notable people]] that came from Croatia are three [[Nobel prize]] winners, and numerous inventors. Some of the world's first [[fountain pen]]s came from Croatia.
 +
 
 +
Croatia also has a place in the history of clothing as the origin of the [[necktie]] (''cravat''). The country has a long [[Culture of Croatia#Arts and literature|artistic, literary]] and [[Music of Croatia|musical tradition]]. Of particular interest is the diverse nature of [[croatian cuisine]].
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
{{portal|Croatia|Flag of Croatia.svg}}
 +
* [[Communications in Croatia]]
 +
* [[Holidays in Croatia]]
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* [[Military of Croatia]]
 +
* [[Protected areas of Croatia]]
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* [[Tourism in Croatia]]
 +
* [[Transport in Croatia]]
 +
* [[Sport in Croatia]]
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* [[Croatian War of Independence]]
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* [[List of Croatians]]
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* [[Law enforcement in Croatia]]
 +
* [[International rankings of Croatia]]
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
* {{hr icon}} Agičić et al., ''Povijest i zemljopis Hrvatske, priručnik za hrvatske manjinske škole'' (''History and [[Geography of Croatia]], a handbook for Croatian minority schools''), Biblioteka Geographica Croatica, 292 pages, Zagreb:2000 (ISBN 953-6235-40-4)
 +
 
 +
== Notes ==
 +
{{reflist}}
 +
 
 +
== Further Reading ==
 +
* Ivo Banac, ''The National Question in Yugoslavia: Origins, History, Politics'' Cornell University Press, 1984.
 +
* Mirjana Kasapovic (ur.), ''Hrvatska politika 1990.-2000.'' Zagreb: Hrvatska politologija 2001.
 +
* Pavol Demes and Joerg Forbrig (eds.). ''Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe.'' German Marshall Fund, 2007. ISBN 978-80-969639-0-4
 +
 
 +
== External links ==
 +
{{sisterlinks|Croatia}}
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* [http://www.vlada.hr/default.asp?ru=2 The Croatian government's official website @ vlada.hr]
 +
* [http://us.mfa.hr/?mh=186&mv=1111 Basic facts, website of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
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* [http://www.croatia.hr/ Croatian National Tourist Board @ croatia.hr]
 +
* [http://www.hr/croatia General information about Croatia @ www.hr]
 +
* [http://www.hr/darko/etf/etfss.html Croatia - Overview of History, Culture, and Science]
 +
* [http://www.acroatiaattraction.com/croatia-attractions/ Tourist attractions in Croatia]
 +
* [http://www.hrvatska.net Croatia Directory]
 +
* [http://www.undp.hr United Nations Development Programme: Croatia]
 +
* [http://www.Croatia.org Croatian World Network (Croatia.org)]
 +
* [http://www.dzzp.hr State Institute for Nature Protection - Croatia]
 +
 
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{{credit|140672358}}

Revision as of 06:53, 26 June 2007


Republika Hrvatska
Republic of Croatia
Flag of Croatia Coat of arms of Croatia
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Lijepa naša domovino
Our beautiful homeland
Location of Croatia
Location of  Croatia (orange)
on the European continent (white)  —  [Legend]
Capital Zagreb
45°48′N 16°0′E
Largest city capital
Official languages Croatian1
Government Parliamentary republic
 - President Stjepan Mesić
 - Premier Ivo Sanader
{{{sovereignty_type}}}  
 - Founded First half of 7th century 
 - Medieval duchy March 4 852 
 - Independence May 21 879 
 - Elevated to kingdom 925 
 - Union with Hungary 1102 
 - joined Habsburg Empire January 1 1527 
 - Independence from Austria-Hungary
October 29 1918 
 - SFR Yugoslavia seceded
June 25 1991 
Area
 - Total 56,542 km² (126th)
21,831 sq mi 
 - Water (%) 0.2
Population
 - July 2007 estimate 4,555,000
 - 2001 census 4,437,460
 - Density 81/km²
208/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate
 - Total $68.21 billion
 - Per capita $15,355 (2007 estimate) IMF
HDI  (2004) Green Arrow Up (Darker).png 0.846 (high)
Currency kuna (HRK)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD .hr
Calling code +385

Croatia (Croatian: Hrvatska listen ▶), officially the Republic of Croatia (Republika Hrvatska), is a country at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Its capital is Zagreb. Croatia shares land borders with Slovenia and Hungary on the north, Serbia on the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina on the south and east, and Montenegro on the south, as well as a sea border with Italy to the west. It is a candidate for membership in the European Union and NATO.

History

File:Satellite image of Croatia in September 2003.jpg
Satellite image of Croatia

The Croats settled in the Balkans in early 7th century along with Serbs and formed two principalities: Dalmatia and Pannonia. The establishment of the Trpimirović dynasty ca 850 brought strengthening to the Dalmatian Croat Duchy, which together with the Pannonian principality became a Kingdom in 925 under King Tomislav.

In 1102, Croatia was politicly absorbed by the Hungarian Kingdom. After the 1526 Battle of Mohacs the "reliquiae reliquiarum" of Croatia became a part of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1527.

Serbia libareted them during First World War from Austria and it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, from 1918-1929, and Kingdom of Yugoslavia, from 1929-1941.

In 1941-1945 an Axis puppet-state known as the Independent State of Croatia was set up, which preformed ethnic cleaning of Serbs, gypsies and other non-croatian people, and after the victory of the Allies, Croatia became a constitutive republic of Yugoslavia.

In 1991 Croatia declared independence, and a long and bloody war was fought (originally between the Croatian government and the Yugoslav People's Army), and then mutating into a conflict between independent Croatia and the Serbs which lived in Croatia, with the support of Serbia proper. The war ended with a Croatian victory andthe fleeing of most of the Serbs from their homes in Croatia to refugee camps in Serbia in 1995.

Geography

File:Map-of-Croatia.png
Map of Croatia

Croatia is located in Southern Europe. Its shape resembles that of a crescent or a horseshoe, which flanks its neighbours Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. To the north lie Slovenia and Hungary; Italy lies across the Adriatic Sea. Its mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum.

Its terrain is diverse, including:

  • plains, lakes and rolling hills in the continental north and northeast (Central Croatia and Slavonia, part of the Pannonian plain);
  • densely wooded mountains in Lika and Gorski Kotar, part of the Dinaric Alps;
  • rocky coastlines on the Adriatic Sea (Istria, Northern Seacoast and Dalmatia).

The country is famous for its many national parks. Croatia has a mixture of climates. In the north and east it is continental, Mediterranean along the coast and a semi-highland and highland climate in the south-central region. Offshore Croatia consists of over one thousand islands varying in size.

National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Croatia as Destination of the Year in 2006. [1]

Politics

Since the adoption of the 1990 Constitution, Croatia has been a democratic republic. Between 1990 and 2000 it had a semi-presidential system, and since 2000 it has a parliamentary system.

The President of the Republic (Predsjednik) is the head of state, directly elected to a five-year term and is limited by the Constitution to a maximum of two terms. In addition to being the commander in chief of the armed forces, the president has the procedural duty of appointing the Prime minister with the consent of the Parliament, and has some influence on foreign policy. His official residence is Predsjednički dvori.

Template:Croatia membership The Croatian Parliament (Sabor) is a unicameral legislative body (a second chamber, the "House of Counties", which was set up by the Constitution of 1990, was abolished in 2001[1]). The number of the Sabor's members can vary from 100 to 160; they are all elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The plenary sessions of the Sabor take place from January 15 to July 15, and from September 15 to December 15.

The Croatian Government (Vlada) is headed by the Prime minister who has two deputy prime ministers and fourteen ministers in charge of particular sectors of activity. The executive branch is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of the republic. Government's official residence is at Banski dvori.

Croatia has a three-tiered judicial system, consisting of the Supreme Court, county courts, and municipal courts. The Constitutional Court rules on matters regarding the Constitution.

Counties

File:Plitvice lakes.JPG
The Plitvice Lakes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
File:Dubrov.jpg
The Old Harbour at Dubrovnik's Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
File:Korana Canyon.JPG
Korana Canyon near Slunj, 30 km downriver from the Plitvice Lakes.
File:Zadar - église Saint-Donat.jpg
Zadar, St. Donatus' Church, a pre-Romanesque church from the ninth century


Croatia is divided into twenty-one counties (županija) and the capital Zagreb's city district (in italics below):

Anglicized name Native name
1 Zagreb Zagrebačka
2 Krapina-Zagorje Krapinsko-zagorska
3 Sisak-Moslavina Sisačko-moslavačka
4 Karlovac Karlovačka
5 Varaždin Varaždinska
6 Koprivnica-Križevci Koprivničko-križevačka
7 Bjelovar-Bilogora Bjelovarsko-bilogorska
8 Primorje-Gorski Kotar  Primorsko-goranska
9 Lika-Senj Ličko-senjska
10 Virovitica-Podravina Virovitičko-podravska
11 Požega-Slavonia Požeško-slavonska
12 Brod-Posavina Brodsko-posavska
13 Zadar Zadarska
14 Osijek-Baranja Osječko-baranjska
15 Šibenik-Knin Šibensko-kninska
16 Vukovar-Srijem Vukovarsko-srijemska
17 Split-Dalmatia Splitsko-dalmatinska
18 Istria Istarska
19 Dubrovnik-Neretva Dubrovačko-neretvanska
20 Međimurje Međimurska
21 City of Zagreb Grad Zagreb

Economy

Croatia economy is service based with service sector accounting for 67% of total GDP. Industrial sector is dominated by shipbuilding, food processing and chemical industry taking a significant portion of Industrial output.

Croatia's largest companies are Agrokor, Ina, Pliva, Podravka, HEP, Vindija and T-Hrvatski Telekom.

Industrial Sector represents 27% of Croatia’s total economic output and agriculture represents 6%.

Agricultural sector in Croatia started to thrive in recent years; exports of blue water fish experienced a surge in demand especially from Japan and South Korea. Croatia is a strong producer of organic foods and much of it as of late is being exported to EU as are Croatian wines, olive oils and lavender.

Tourism is a notable source of income during the summer. With over 8.9 million foreign tourists in 2006 generating a revenue of over 7 billion euros, Croatia is ranked as eighteenth most popular tourist destination in the world.

Trade is starting to play a major role in Croatian Economic Output. In 2006 Croatia exported goods in value of 10.4 U$ billion (FOB) (19.7 billion including service exports.

The estimated Gross Domestic Product per capita in purchasing power parity in 2006 was cca. USD 15500 or 48.9% of the EU average for the same year.

Croatian preliminary GDP data for 2007, puts Croatian GDP at 68,208 billion USD, or just over 15,355 USD per head (Real income) putting Croatia ahead of EU member-states Romania and Bulgaria.

The Croatian economy is post-communist. In the late 1980s, at the beginning of the process of economic transition, its position was favorable, but it was gravely impacted by de-industrialization, war destruction as well as losing the markets of Yugoslavia and the SEV.

Persistent economic problems still remain: unemployment (11.9% in 2006)[2] and slow progress of economic reforms. Of particular concern is the heavily backlogged judiciary system, combined with inefficient public administration, especially issues of land ownership. The unemployment is very high in eastern parts of Croatia (Slavonia and Dalmatia), reaching 20% in some areas, and relatively low in larger cities, Istria, Kvarner, Zagreb-area, being under 7%. Unemployment has been constantly declining by 5% over the last 7 years.[3]

The country has since experienced faster economic growth and has been preparing for membership in the European Union, its most important trading partner.

In February 2005, the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU officially came into force and Croatia is advancing towards full EU membership. The country expects some major economic impulses and high growth rates in the coming years (currently Croatia suffers from high export deficit and considerable debt). Croatia is expecting a major boom in investments, especially greenfield investments.

Demographics

Split, the largest and most important city in Dalmatia.

The population of Croatia has been stagnating over the last decade. The 1991–1995 war in Croatia had previously displaced large parts of the population and increased emigration. Some Croats who fled the country during the war are returning. The natural growth rate is minute or negative (less than ± 1%), as the demographic transition has been completed half a century ago. Average life expectancy is approximately 75 years, and the literacy rate is 98.5%.

Croatia is inhabited mostly by Croats (89.9%). There are around twenty minorities, Serbs being the largest one (4.5%) and others having less than 0.5% each. The predominant religion is Catholicism (87.8%), with some Orthodox (4.4%) and Sunni Muslim (1.3%) minorities.

The official and common language, Croatian, is a South Slavic language, using the Latin alphabet. Less than 5% of the population cites other languages as their mother tongues.

Culture

Croatian culture is based on a thirteen century-long history during which the country has attained many monuments and cities, which gave birth to a number of historical figures. The country includes six World Heritage sites and eight national parks. Among a list of notable people that came from Croatia are three Nobel prize winners, and numerous inventors. Some of the world's first fountain pens came from Croatia.

Croatia also has a place in the history of clothing as the origin of the necktie (cravat). The country has a long artistic, literary and musical tradition. Of particular interest is the diverse nature of croatian cuisine.

See also

Portal Croatia Portal
  • Communications in Croatia
  • Holidays in Croatia
  • Military of Croatia
  • Protected areas of Croatia
  • Tourism in Croatia
  • Transport in Croatia
  • Sport in Croatia
  • Croatian War of Independence
  • List of Croatians
  • Law enforcement in Croatia
  • International rankings of Croatia

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • (Croatian) Agičić et al., Povijest i zemljopis Hrvatske, priručnik za hrvatske manjinske škole (History and Geography of Croatia, a handbook for Croatian minority schools), Biblioteka Geographica Croatica, 292 pages, Zagreb:2000 (ISBN 953-6235-40-4)

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.sabor.hr/default.asp?jezik=2
  2. ↑ http://www.hnb.hr/statistika/e-ekonomski_indikatori.htm?tsfsg=15127d5832d6ac210a43438afd2fc966
  3. ↑ http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/StatInfo/pdf/StatInfo2006.pdf

Further Reading

  • Ivo Banac, The National Question in Yugoslavia: Origins, History, Politics Cornell University Press, 1984.
  • Mirjana Kasapovic (ur.), Hrvatska politika 1990.-2000. Zagreb: Hrvatska politologija 2001.
  • Pavol Demes and Joerg Forbrig (eds.). Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe. German Marshall Fund, 2007. ISBN 978-80-969639-0-4

External links

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