Allegory and the Critique of Sovereignty: Ismail Kadare's Political Theologies

This study reveals that the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad serves as a powerful allegorical symbol in the literature of Eastern European and Middle Eastern nations, reflecting the complex interplay between state sovereignty, violence, and political critique. By analyzing works by Ismail Kadare and Ivo Andric, the research demonstrates how these authors use historical settings to comment on contemporary social and political issues, particularly the paradoxes of power and the role of the intellectual in societies undergoing transformation. The study employs literary analysis to trace the narrative that links buildings to human sacrifice, drawing on René Girard's scapegoat mechanism to elucidate the conceptual cohesion within Balkan narratives.

Gould, R. (2012). Allegory and the Critique of Sovereignty: Ismail Kadare’s Political Theologies. Studies in the Novel, 44(2), 208–230. https://doi.org/10.1353/sdn.2012.0012