Campanilism refers to an intense form of localism and fierce rivalry between neighboring Mediterranean communities, villages, or urban districts, with a strong emphasis on communal identity, stereotypes, and symbolic superiority. The phenomenon of campanilism is most effectively understood through the lens of local or place-based identity, in which strong identification is formed at the level of the village, island, or micro-region, producing distinctions between “us” and “others.” As such, campanilism is a key concept within the anthropology of the Mediterranean, often interpreted within the broader “honour and shame” paradigm in Mediterranean anthropology.

The case study of Zastražišće, realized between 2004 and 2026, provides concrete data on rivalry between neighboring communities, as well as on the formation of local identity and competition in relation to new perspectives such as tourism, ecotourism, and alternative economy.