One must agree with Georges Sorel that political myths have a long and durable life. For 74 years the Yugoslav state drew its legitimacy from the spirit of Versailles and Yalta, as well as from the Serb-inspired pan-Slavic mythology. By carefully manipulating the history of their constituent peoples while glorifying their own, Yugoslav leaders managed to convince the world that Yugoslavia was a “model multiethnic state.” Many global-minded pundits in the West followed suit and made a nice career preaching the virtues of the Yugoslav multi-ethnic pot. By tirelessly vaunting the Yugoslav model, scores of starry-eyed Western academics gave, both pedagogically and psychologically, additional legitimacy to artificial Yugoslavia. Continue reading “The Yugoslav Mythology: A Multicultural Pathology (August 1993 ~ Chronicles)”
Naive Policy ( 22 October 1984 ~ The Sacramento Bee)
Your recent article “Soviets gain the upper hand in Yugoslav politics?” (Sept. 28) suggests naively that the crackdown on dissidents in Belgrade is due to the invisible hand of the Soviet Union, although no proofs of Soviet involvement were given by the article.
American media portray Yugoslavia as “a liberal Communist country.” Although Amnesty International, based in London, has clearly established that in recent years the human rights violation in Yugoslavia is the worst in East Europe. Continue reading “Naive Policy ( 22 October 1984 ~ The Sacramento Bee)”
Yugoslavia’s Gulag (The Sacramento Bee)
I read with interest your article on the arrested Yugoslav citizens (“28 Yugoslav Citizens Arrested,” The Bee, April 22). I would like to point out that these are not isolated cases of the police crackdown on dissidents.
Far worse are the constant persecutions against Croats and ethnic Albanians at home and abroad (including the U.S.A.). During the last 20 years, more than 50 Yugoslav citizens, mostly Croats, were killed or abducted by the Yugoslav secret police, in the West and the U.S. (Libyan-style diplomacy). Continue reading “Yugoslavia’s Gulag (The Sacramento Bee)”
Menaces d’éclatement en Yougoslavie (le 2 Aout 1991 ~ Le Monde Diplomatique)
M. Tomislav Sunic, professeur de science politique au Juniata College, Pennsylvanie (Etats-Unis), nous écrit a propos de notre dossier « L’éclatement de la Fédération yougoslave est-il inéluctable ? », paru dans notre numéro de mai :
Face à une situation géopolitique fort imprévisible, il n’est pas étonnant que les gouvernements occidentaux préfèrent miser sur une Yougoslavie unifiée et intacte, bien que cela ait abouti – histoire à l’épreuve – à davantage de haine entre ses divers groupes ethniques. Continue reading “Menaces d’éclatement en Yougoslavie (le 2 Aout 1991 ~ Le Monde Diplomatique)”
Les bourreaux nationalistes des Balkans (Jeudi 30 Juillet 1992 ~ Le Monde)
Les récentes manifestations politiques et intellectuelles de l’opposition serbe à Belgrade, dirigées contre le président Slobodan Milosevic, sont fort louables, mais elles viennent un peu tard.
L’Académie serbe des sciences et des arts, présentée comme l’un des principaux initiateurs de ces manifestations, a un passé peu glorieux. Continue reading “Les bourreaux nationalistes des Balkans (Jeudi 30 Juillet 1992 ~ Le Monde)”
The Terminal Illness of Yugoslavia ( June 9, 1990 ~ Chicago Tribune)
Amidst breathtaking changes in Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia appears as a cadaver that simply refuses to rot away. Not long ago the Yugoslav communists could claim to be the first initiators of their self-styled perestroika, and their maverick self-managing communism engendered considerable awe in many Western well-wishers. Today, however, Yugoslav institutions are turning into anachronisms, and Yugoslavia’s ill-conceived federalism has pushed its six constituent republics to the brink of civil war. Continue reading “The Terminal Illness of Yugoslavia ( June 9, 1990 ~ Chicago Tribune)”
For Yugoslavia, Breakup is the Best Answer (Saturday, 2 March 1991/ The New York Times)
To the Editor:
News reports reflecting the Bush Administration position may lead some to the conclusion that the unity of Yugoslavia needs to be preserved at all costs. Several arguments speak to the contrary. Continue reading “For Yugoslavia, Breakup is the Best Answer (Saturday, 2 March 1991/ The New York Times)”
Yugoslavia’s Ethnic Troubles (The World and I ~ August 1987)
To the Editor:
I read rather belatedly the delightful article by the Yugoslav expatriate Mihajlov [September 1986,] in which he successfully exposes the myth of Titoist Yugoslavia as a form of political charade. He is right in observing that it is now Yugoslavia’s turn to face increasing economic chaos and the complete erosion of federal authority. Continue reading “Yugoslavia’s Ethnic Troubles (The World and I ~ August 1987)”
Wall Street Journal August 26-27, 1988 ~ Yugoslav Solution: Ethnic Questions Should Come First
Since 1980, the year of President Tito’s death, Yugoslavia has been edging toward a political, economic and ideological crisis. Until last year, the Communist League had been able to achieve a semblance of stability by repeatedly reassuring its disgruntled citizens that “next year it will be better.” But the ongoing deterioration of the Yugoslav economy and the continuing ethnic ferment has finally made the party hard-liners realize that the survival of the country depends on urgent political and economic overhaul. Continue reading “Wall Street Journal August 26-27, 1988 ~ Yugoslav Solution: Ethnic Questions Should Come First”
The Washington Times Letters to the Editor ~ December 28, 2001 ” Croatia Back in Chaos? ”
I have read with interest Jeffrey T. Kuhner’s Dec. 26 Op-Ed column on Croatia and its difficult road to democracy, “Not yet Bush of the Balkans.” Mr. Kuhner is right in critically assessing the pervasive Balkanesque cronyism and corruption in Croatian politics. Yet he briefly and only sketchily mentions the large-scale massacres and removal of thousands of Croat civilians and competent professionals by the former Yugoslav communist security apparatus, which is still partially alive in Croatia. Continue reading “The Washington Times Letters to the Editor ~ December 28, 2001 ” Croatia Back in Chaos? ””