The “Balkans” in the repository . Questions surrounding the Southeastern Europe collection in the Museum of European Cultures

From half-finished beehives to delicate embroidery, the Museum of European Cultures in Berlin (Museum Europäischer Kulturen, MEK) houses a large number of objects from Southeastern Europe. Although they are without doubt still fascinating today, the question remains: Why should we be interested in them? What can material culture contribute to a “post-colonial” view of Southeastern Europe?