Stability and Mobility: Hyperterritoriality and Ethnic Intersections on Ivo Andrić’s Bridge on the Drina

Ivo Andrić’s Bridge on the Drina (1945) reveals how the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad, a symbol of Ottoman power, transitioned from a site of violence to one of ethnic and cultural intersection. The novel traces over three centuries of shifts in Eastern Bosnia-Herzegovina, highlighting its transformation under Austro-Hungarian rule (1878) as it became a hub for diverse ethnicities, including Ashkenazy Jews. Through narrative analysis, the study examines hyperterritoriality—where multiple identities and powers intersect—challenging static notions of cultural stability. This approach underscores the bridge’s role in reflecting broader historical and social dynamics.

(Ed.). (2013). Stability and Mobility: Hyperterritoriality and Ethnic Intersections on Ivo Andrić’s Bridge on the Drina. Mobile Narratives, 254–264. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203487730-29