Serbia is thenation state of theSerbs, who are Serbia's dominant ethnic group. Serbs are also dominant inRepublika Srpska, an entity ofBosnia and Herzegovina. In the 19th century, theSerbiannational identity was manifested, with awareness ofhistory andtradition,medieval heritage,cultural unity, despite Serbs living under different empires. Three elements, together with the legacy of theNemanjić dynasty, were crucial in forging identity and preservation during foreign domination: theSerbian Orthodox Church,Kosovo Myth, and theSerbian language.[1] The identification with medieval heritage through veneratingSerbian saints, together withSerbian epic poetry, had helped develop a national consciousness separate from otherOrthodox Christian peoples in theBalkans.[2] The heroic epic poetry cycles inspired the Serbs to revive their heroic past and freedom.[2] In the stories, thehajduks were heroes: they had played the role of the Serbian elite duringOttoman rule, they had defended the Serbs against Ottoman oppression, and prepared for the national liberation and contributed to it in theSerbian Revolution.[3] The symbolical Kosovo Myth became themythomoteur, signifying martyrdom and defence of Serb honour andChristendom againstTurks (Muslims).[4] When thePrincipality of Serbia gained independence from theOttoman Empire, Orthodoxy became crucial in defining the national identity, instead of language which was shared by otherSouth Slavs (Croats andMuslims).[5]
TheCyrillic script is an important symbol of Serbian identity.[6] Under theConstitution of Serbia,Serbian Cyrillic is the only script in official use;[7] it is also co-official inMontenegro andBosnia and Herzegovina.[8] Thedouble-headed eagle and theshield with fire steels are the mainheraldic symbols which have represented the national identity of the Serbian people across the centuries.[9]
An international self-esteem survey conducted on 16,998 people from 53 nations was published by theAmerican Psychological Association in 2005;[10] the questionnaire included views of one's individual personality, that of one's own nation and that of other nations. The research found that Serbia was placed first of the most self-esteemed nation, ahead of the United States (6th), and Japan (last place), and the majority of nations, as well as Serbs themselves, agreed on this.[11] The research also noted that Serbia was among the 10 mostcollectivist nations.[10]