Education

B.A. and M.A., University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D., University of Toronto

Research Statement

Dr. Bergholz is Associate Professor of History at Concordia University, where he has taught since 2011.  He received his PhD in Balkan and East European history at the University of Toronto in 2010.  His interests include microhistorical approaches to the history of modern Europe, with a particular focus on the local dynamics of nationalism, intercommunal violence, and historical memory.  His fieldwork focuses on Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia, where he researches in central and provincial archives and conducts oral history interviews in small towns and villages. 

His first book, Violence as a Generative Force: Identity, Nationalism, and Memory in a Balkan Community (Cornell University Press, 2016), investigates the causes and dynamics of violence during 1941 in a multi-ethnic community that straddles the present-day border between Bosnia and Croatia, and their effects on local identities and social relations.  

The book has won five prizes, including the 2019 Laura Shannon Prize (awarded by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame) and the 2017 Herbert Baxter Adams Prize (awarded by the American Historical Association).  A Bosnian edition of the book was published in 2018 by Buybook (Sarajevo/Zagreb), and was named as a "2019 Book of the Year" in Croatia by the daily newspaper Jutarnji list.  A second edition was published in 2024.  A Chinese edition was published in 2023 by Imaginist (Beijing).

He is currently researching and writing a book entitled Deafening Silences: Intercommunal Violence and the Challenge of Telling Human and Inhuman Histories, which investigates how three distinct governments and their local supporters in the Croatian town of Glina attempted – between 1945 and the present day – to confront the memory of that town’s violent past during 1941

Major Research Grants and Fellowships:

• Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
• Cornell University Society for the Humanities
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
• International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX)
• Le Fonds de recherché du Québec-Société et culture (FRQ-SC)
• Fulbright International Institute for Education (IIE)
• American Councils for International Education

PUBLICATIONS (in English)

Books

Deafening Silences: Intercommunal Violence and the Challenge of Telling Human and Inhuman Histories (in progress).

Telling Histories of Violence without Borders (South Bend, IN: Nanovic Institute for European Studies; University of Notre Dame, 2020).

Violence as a Generative Force: Identity, Nationalism, and Memory in a Balkan Community (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2016).

• Winner | 2019 Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies, Nanovic Institute, University of Notre Dame

• Winner | 2019 “A Book of the Year in Croatia” (one among fifteen fiction and non-fiction titles), Jutarnji list (Croatia)

• Winner | 2018 European Studies Book Award, Council for European Studies, Columbia University

• Winner | 2017 Herbert Baxter Adams Prize, American Historical Association

• Winner | 2017 Harriman-Rothschild Book Prize in Nationalism and Ethnic Studies, Association for the Study of Nationalities and the Harriman Institute, Columbia University

• Winner | 2017 Taylor and Francis Book Prize in Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, Canadian Association of Slavists.

• Winner | 2017 Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title Award 

• Finalist | 2017 Raphael Lemkin Book Award, Institute for the Study of Genocide

Reviews: American Historical Review [featured review]; Autograf; Behar – časopis za književnost i društvena pitanja; Canadian Slavonic Papers [book roundtable – three commentaries and author response]; Choice Magazine; Contemporary European History; Danas; Defense Report; Dunjalučar – magazin za filozofiju, kulturu i umjetnost; Études internationales; EuropeNow; Express; Filozofija i društvo; Foreign Affairs; Genocide Studies and Prevention; Helšinski odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji; H-Genocide; H-Soz-u-Kult; Humanističke studije; Intelektualno; Journal of Cold War Studies; Journal of Modern History; Journal of Regional Security; Jutarnji list;Links; Montenegrin Journal for Social Sciences; Nationalism and Ethnic Politics; Nationalities Papers [book symposium – three commentaries and author response]; Perspectives on Politics; Politeia; Prilozi; Revista Universitaria de Historia Militar; Slavic Review;Southeastern Europe; XXZ magazin; Život - časopis za književnost i kulturu

Bosnian translation in 2018 with Buybook (Sarajevo-Zagreb [second edition, 2024]) - Nasilje kao generativna sila: identitet, nacionalizam i sjećanje u jednoj balkanskoj zajednici

Chinese translation in 2023 with Imaginist (Beijing) - 何故为敌 1941年一个巴尔干小镇的族群冲突、身份认同与历史记忆

Journal Articles and Book Chapters

“Uncomfortable Evidence: On the Challenge of Telling New Stories about Srebrenica.” Journal of Genocide Research, published online on February 6, 2025: 1-21.

“Silence Enshrined: Memorializing Intercommunal Violence in a Land of Brotherhood and Unity.” History & Memory 36, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 2024): 7-44.

“On Translating History Against the Grain.” In Augusta Dimou, Theodora Dragostinova, and Veneta Ivanova, eds., Re-Imagining the Balkans: How to Think and Teach a Region. Festschrift in Honor of Maria N. Todorova (Oldenburg: De Gruyter, 2023): 311-322.

“To Kill or Not to Kill? The Challenge of Restraining Violence in a Balkan Community.” Comparative Studies in Society and History 61, no. 4 (October 2019): 954-985.

“Thinking the Nation: Reappraising Benedict Anderson’s Contribution to the Study of Nationalism.” American Historical Review 123, no. 2 (April 2018): 518-528. 

“Assumptions and Evidence in the Study of Violence: A Response to Üngör, Vujačić, and Bokovoy.” Invited Book Roundtable on Violence as a Generative Force: Identity, Nationalism, and Memory in a Balkan Community, Canadian Slavonic Papers 60, no. 1-2 (2018): 311-333.

“Evidence, Explanation, and Telling Histories of Violence: A Response to Dragojević, Braun, and Fedorowycz.” Invited Book Symposium on Violence as a Generative Force: Identity, Nationalism, and Memory in a Balkan Community, Nationalities Papers, 46, no. 6 (2018): 1146-1158. 

“‘As if nothing ever happened:’ Massacres, Missing Corpses, and Silence in a Bosnian Community.” In Élisabett Anstett and Jean-Marc Dreyfus, eds., Destruction and Human Remains. Disposal and Concealment in Genocide and Mass Violence (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2014): 15-45.

“Sudden Nationhood: The Microdynamics of Intercommunal Relations in Bosnia-Herzegovina after World War II.” American Historical Review 118, no. 3 (June 2013): 679-707.

“When All Could No Longer Be Equal in Death: A Local Community’s Struggle to Remember Its Fallen Soldiers in the Shadow of Serbia’s Civil War, 1955-1956.” The Carl Beck Papers in Russian and East European Studies. No. 2008, (November, 2010): 1-58.

“The Strange Silence: Explaining the Absence of Monuments for Muslim Civilians Killed in Bosnia During the Second World War.” East European Politics & Societies 24, no. 3 (August 2010): 408-434.

PUBLICATIONS (in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin)

Books

Nasilje kao generativna sila: identitet, nacionalizam i sjećanje u jednoj balkanskoj zajednici. Trans. Senada Kreso (Sarajevo / Zagreb: Buybook, 2018 [drugo izdanje, 2024]).

• Winner | 2019 “A Book of the Year” (one among fifteen fiction and non-fiction titles), Jutarnji list (Croatia)

• Reviews: Autograf; Behar – časopis za književnost i društvena pitanja; Danas; Dunjalučar – magazin za filozofiju, kulturu i umjetnost; Express; Filozofija i društvo; Helšinski odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji; Humanističke studije; Intelektualno; Journal of Regional Security;Jutarnji list; Links; Montenegrin Journal for Social Sciences; Politeia; Prilozi; XXZ magazin; Život - časopis za književnost i kulturu

Journal Articles and Book Chapters

“Šutnja u kamenu: memorijalizacija nasilja među zajednicama u zemlji bratstva i jedinstva.” Prilozi, br. 53 (2024): 289-337.

“Vreme u kojem više ni svi mrtvi nisu mogli biti jednaki: borba za sećanje na pale borce u senci građanskog rata u jednom selu u Srbiji, 1955-1956.” Slovo ćirilovo, godina sedamnaesta, br. 17 (2020): 83-130.

“Naprasna nacionalnost: mikrodinamika odnosa među zajednicama u Bosni i Hercegovini nakon Drugog svjetskog rata.”  Historijski zbornik, 71, broj 2 (2018): 283-319.

“Čudna šutnja: zašto nema spomenika za muslimanske civilne žrtve ubijene u Bosni u Drugom svjetskom ratu?” Historijska traganja, broj 8, (2012): 109-147.

“Sveštenik, spomen ploča i borba za sećanje na pale borce u jednom selu u Srbiji, 1955-1956.”  U Dragana Radojičić i Aleksandra Pavićević, urednici, Spomen mesta, istorija, sećanja (Beograd: Etnografski institut SANU, 2009): 37-46.

“Među rodoljubima, kupusom, svinjama i varvarima: spomenici i grobovi NOR-a, 1947-1965 godine.” Godišnjak za društvenu istoriju godina. XIV, sveska 1-3, (Beograd, 2007): 61-82.

“Među rodoljubima, kupusom, svinjama i varvarima: spomenici i grobovi NOR-a, 1947-1965 godine.” U Husnija Kamberović, urednik., 60 godina od završetka Drugog svijetskog rata. Kako se sjećati 1945. godine? (Sarajevo: Institut za istoriju, 2006): 75-99.

Public History Writing

“On Being There.” Invited essay for the Invisible Histories project (hosted by Harvard University’s Center for History and Economics, 2021).

https://histecon.fas.harvard.edu/invisible-histories/captions/being_there/index.html

“Fieldwork on Foot: Northwest Bosnia, ca. 2012-2013.” Invited photo essay for the Invisible Histories project (hosted by Harvard University’s Center for History and Economics, 2021).

https://histecon.fas.harvard.edu/invisible-histories/essays/being_there/index.html

“U bosanskim arhivima.” Post for Peščanik, April 17, 2019.

https://pescanik.net/u-bosanskim-arhivima/

“Archives in Bosnia in Minutes and Hours.” Post for Sage House News: The Cornell University Press Blog, February 16, 2017. https://sagehouse.blog/2017/02/16/archives-in-bosnia-in-minutes-and-hours/

“World War I Conference in Sarajevo Produced no ‘Ethnic Firestorm.’” Letter to the Editor co-authored with Edin Hajdarpasic, Chronicle of Higher Education, June 30, 2014.

https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/letters/world-war-i-conference-in-sarajevo-produced-no-ethnic-firestorm/

Interviews (in English, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Montenegrin)

“Intervju: Max Bergholz, povjesničar. Etnička netrpeljivost je posljedica ekstremnog nasilja.” Preporodov Journal, broj 218-219, august/septembar 2019: 52-58.

“Max Bergholz: Ustanici su ubijali iz osvete.” Novosti, August 2, 2019.

https://www.portalnovosti.com/max-bergholz-ustanici-su-ubijali-iz-osvete

“Intervju Max Bergholz: Ustaške pljače i pokolji prokrenuli su zlo odmazde.” Express, June 14, 2019.

https://www.express.hr/kultura/ndh-je-omogucio-ubojstva-i-grabez-neki-su-to-iskoristili-21893

“Nasilje kao generativna sila.” Razgovor o knjizi sa autorom i voditeljem emisije dr. sc. Josip Mihaljević, Povjesne kontroverze, na Trećem programu HRT, aired live on June 6 and 13, 2019.

https://radio.hrt.hr/ep/nasilje-kao-generativna-sila-1-dio/302456/

https://radio.hrt.hr/ep/povijesne-kontroverze/302457/

“Intervju Maks Bergholc: Istorija se često zloupotrebljava.” Novi magazin, June 1, 2019.

http://www.novimagazin.rs/vesti/intervju-maks-bergholc-istorija-se-cesto-zloupotrebljava

Reposted by Helšinski odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji on June 1, 2019:

https://www.helsinki.org.rs/serbian/aktuelnosti_t369.html

“Maks Bergholc, istoričar.” Intervju sa novinarom Vladom Milićem, Producijska grupa Mreža, Dnevnik TV Mreža, May 27, 2019.

https://mreza.rs/dnevnik-tv-mreze-maks-bergholc-istoricar/

“O pokolju u Kulen Vakufu nije se smjelo govoriti jer su neki među ustanicima otiši u partizane.” Jutarnji list, May 19, 2019.

https://www.jutarnji.hr/magazin/povjesnicar-iz-kanade-pisuci-o-zlocinu-na-balkanu-iskopao-istinu-koja-nikome-nije-po-volji-naucio-je-i-jezik-da-bi-mogao-istraziti-povijesne-dokumente/8884940/

Reposted by Autograf on June 16, 2019.

https://www.autograf.hr/istina-koja-nikome-nije-po-volji/

“Etničko nasilje nije ekskluziv Balkana.” Oslobođenje, May 16, 2019.

https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/dosjei/intervjui/max-bergholz-etnicko-nasilje-nije-ekskluziv-balkana-457355

Reposted by Buka on May 16, 2019.

https://6yka.com/novosti/max-bergholz-etnicko-nasilje-nije-ekskluziv-balkana

“Historičar Max Bergholz objašnjava zašto je osvetničko nasilje ustanika kuluminiralo početkom septembra 1941. godine.” Aljazeera Balkans, May 6, 2019.

http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/u-kulen-vakufu-ustanici-1941-godine-pobili-2000-muslimana-i-hrvata

“Interview with Max Bergholz on CBC Radio ‘Homerun’ with Sue Smith.” Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [Montreal], aired live on March 7, 2019.

http://www.maxbergholz.com/cbchomerun

“World War II Massacres in Bosnia: How Violence Transforms Communities.” Balkan Insight, January 16, 2019 [published in English, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Albanian, and Macedonian]. 

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/wwii-massacres-in-bosnia-how-violence-transforms-communities-01-11-2019

“Seconda guerra mondiale in Bosnia: come la violenza trasforma le comunità.” Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso

https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Bosnia-Erzegovina/Seconda-guerra-mondiale-in-Bosnia-come-la-violenza-trasforma-le-comunita-192314

“We have to find ways to walk in the shoes of our historical subjects, an interview with Max Bergholz.” Concordia University News, June 7, 2018

http://www.concordia.ca/cunews/artsci/2018/06/07/concordians-book-recognized-with-fourth-major-award.html

“American Historical Review Interview with Max Bergholz on his reappraisal of Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities.” American Historical Association, March 15, 2018.

https://soundcloud.com/aha-historians/ahr-interview-with-max-bergholz-on-his-reappraisal-of-benedict-andersons-imagined-communities

“Violence as a Generative Force. Identity, Nationalism, and Memory in a Balkan Community.” New Books Network, August 25, 2017.

https://newbooksnetwork.com/max-bergholz-violence-as-a-generative-force-identity-nationalism-and-memory-in-a-balkan-community-cornell-up-2016/

“CEERES of Voices Interview with Max Bergholz at the Seminary Co-op Bookstore in Chicago.” The Center for East European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Chicago, February 17, 2017.

https://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/eastfromchicago/2017/03/09/ceeres-of-voices-interview-with-max-bergholz/

RECENT PRESENTATIONS

“Uncomfortable Evidence: On the Challenge of Telling New Stories about Srebrenica.” Invited lecture at Northeastern University’s Burdnick Center for the Study of Conflict and Violence, February 27, 2025. 

“Our Truths: Intercommunal Violence and Challenge of a Common Humanity.” Invited lecture at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Research Cluster on Identity Politics, February 26, 2025.

“Deafening Silences: Intercommunal Violence and the Challenge of Telling Human and Inhuman Histories.” Invited presentation at the Research Center for Memory Cultures, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, April 24, 2024.

“Silence Enshrined: Memorializing Intercommunal Violence in a Land of Brotherhood and Unity.” Invited presentation at the Research Center for Memory Cultures, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, April 24, 2024. 

“Writing and the Art of Story Telling in Academia.” Invited panel discussion by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Kylemore Abbey, Ireland, August 10, 2022.

“Silence Enshrined: Memorializing Intercommunal Violence in the Land of Brotherhood and Unity.” Invited presentation at the conference “Spomenici u kulturi sjećanja: svjedočanstvo vremena, mjesta sjećanja, mjesta prijepora.” Fredrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina, September 9, 2020.

“Telling Histories of Violence without Borders.” Invited lecture at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies on the occasion of receiving the Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies, University of Notre Dame, November 21, 2019.

“Prepričavanje istorija nasilja.” Invited presentation at the Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije [Institute for the Contemporary History of Serbia], May 28, 2019.

“Nasilje kao generativna sila: identitet, nacionalizam i sjećanje u jednoj balkanskoj zajednici.” Invited presentation at the Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju [Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory], University of Belgrade, May 27, 2019.

“Izazov interdisiplinarnog istraživanja o nasilju.” Invited presentation at the Institut za društvenu istraživanja u Zagrebu [Institute for Social Research in Zagreb], University of Zagreb, May 13, 2019.

“Histories of Violence Without Borders.” Invited plenary lecture at the conference ‘Mediterranean Violence,’ University of Minnesota, April 25-26, 2019.

Current courses

• HIST 477  Histories of Nationalism
• HIST 498  Histories of Violence
• HIST 498  Telling History and Storytelling
• HIST 360  History of Genocide, 1945 – present
• HIST 344  Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia
• HIST 208  History of the Balkans
• HIST 200  A Late Twentieth-Century Genocide: Srebrenica, July 1995