Transcript Nations and Nationalities in Socialist Federal Republic of

Nations and Nationalities in
Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia and after the Break
Selma Muhič-Dizdarevič, MA
Faculty of Humanities
History
• Democratic Federative Yugoslavia was reconstituted at
the AVNOJ or the Anti-Fascist Council of National
Liberation of Yugoslavia conference in Jajce (November,
29 – December,4 , 1943) while negotiations with the
royal government in exile continued. On November, 29,
1945 the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia was
established (also by AVNOJ in Jajce). On January 31,
1945, the new constitution of FPR Yugoslavia established
the six constituent republics.
• The first president was Ivan Ribar and prime minister
Josip Broz Tito. In 1953, Tito was elected as president
and later in 1963 named „President for life".
History
• Like the Kingdom of Yugoslavia that preceded it, the
SFRY bordered Italy and Austria to the northwest,
Hungary and Romania to the north, Bulgaria to the east,
Greece and Albania to the south, and the Adriatic Sea to
the west.
• Yugoslavia, unlike other Eastern and Central European
communist countries, chose a course independent of the
Soviet Union (Informbiro), and was not a member of the
Warsaw pact nor NATO, but rather than that initiated a
Non-Aligned Movement in 1956.
The Map
Nationality
1971
%
1981
National Structure
%
Albanians
1,309,523
6.4
1,731,252
7.7
Bulgarians
58,267
0.3
36,642
0.2
Croats
4,526,782
Italians
21,791
0.1
15,116
0.1
Macedonians
1,194,784
5.8
1,341,420
6.0
Muslims/Bosniaks
1,729,932
8.4
2,000,034
8.9
Serbs
8,143,246
39.7
8,136,578
36.3
83,656
0.4
80,300
0.4
Slovenians
1,678,032
8.2
1,753,605
7.8
Hungarians
477,374
2.3
426,865
1.9
Montenegrins
508,843
2.5
577,298
Slovaks
22.1
4,428,135
19.7
Nationality
1971
%
1981
%
Roma
78,485
0.4% 148,604 0.7%
Romanians
58,570
0.3% 54,721
Turks
127,920 0.6% 101,328 0.5%
Yugoslavs
252,330 1.2% 389,970 1.7%
0.2%
Internal Organization
• Six socialist republics and two autonomous
regions
• Despite common origins, the economy of socialist
Yugoslavia was much different from economies of the
Soviet Union and other Eastern European socialist
countries, especially after the Yugoslav-Soviet break-up
of 1948. Rather then being owned by the state, companies
were socially owned and managed with workers' selfmanagement. The occupation and liberation struggle in
World War II left Yugoslavia's infrastructure devastated.
Internal Organization
• With the exception of a recession in mid-1960s, the
country's economy prospered formidably. Unemployment
was low and the education level of the working force
steadily increased. From seventies organized on the
principle of workers´ self-management system.
• Due to Yugoslavia's neutrality and a leading role in the
Non-aligned Movement, Yugoslav companies exported to
both Western and Eastern markets. Yugoslav companies
carried out construction of numerous major infrastructural
and industrial projects in Africa, Europe and Asia.
The Second World War
• 27 March 1941 protests, which slowed down Nazi attack
on USSR
• Occupied by Germans and Italians, each republic had
both anti and pro-occupation forces. Internal genocides
(Croats to Serbs, Serbs to Bosniaks, etc.)
• Partisans under Tito, uncompromisingly against
occupation and “domestic traitors“ gradually become the
leading force
• After the war, “Informbiro” affair
Democracy
• One-party rule
• Communist party was the only existing
party. Pluralism of regional communist
parties on republic levels.
• False democracy – communism with
human face (most important freedom to
travel)
National question
• SFRJ was a multinational and multiethnic
society. Nations – recognized as full citizens.
Nationalities – a highly developed level of
minority rights.
• TV programs, schools, universities in all the
languages. Part of mainstream curriculum always
included references to minorities.
• The main slogan: brotherhood and unity
National question
• Compared to the states created after the last
Balkan wars, level of minority rights was very
high.
• Attempts at organizing politically on national
basis were prohibited and stigmatized, but
carriers of the ideas were not being destroyed by
the system.
• The nations and nationalities were free to
organize on cultural basis.
• No signs that the conflict would be so brutal.
National question
• Slovenia – homogenous + guestworkers from
other republics
• Croatia – Serbian minority
• Bosnia – three basic nations (Bosniaks, Croats,
Serbs)
• Serbia – various minorities, Albanians,
Hungarians
• Macedonia – Albanian minority
• Montenegro – Bosniak and Albanians
Wars
• Tito dies in 1980, Milosevic comes to power in 1987,
conflict in Slovenia in 1990, war in Croatia 1991, in
Bosnia 1992, in Kosovo 1999.
• Some of the causes: total lack of democratic experience,
with use of procedure; hunger for ideology, after the
break of communism; communist elite bridging the power
gap; approach of international community;
• Shrap decrease in minority rights in all the new states,
only in Bosnia 150,000 people dead, millions displaced…
Post-war situation in ex-Yu
• Slovenia
• Homogenous, in the EU, guestworkers
became missing persons, without
documents, without rights
• Transit and destination country for asylumseekers
Croatia
• Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina as refugees in
Croatia, now citizens, in conflict with local Serbs
• Serbs, as the most visible minority, reduced in number
after the war with Serbia and local Serbs. Territorially
concentrated, politically organized (affirmative action).
De facto isolated and unpopular.
• Amnesty after the war ended in 1994
• Serbs threatened as witnesses of war crimes
• Problems with Serbian property
Bosnia and Herzegovina
• The war ended with Dayton Agreement, ethnically based
political organization
• Three constitutive nations, others ignored
• Each tenth adult Bosniak male was killed
• Under a partial protectorate of international community
• Ethnic principle blocks integration, the conflict from the
war has not been resolved
• A lot of Serbs from Croatia, who expelled Bosniaks and
Croats
• Privileged position of Serbs from Serbia
Serbia
• After the wars Serbia led for ethnically cleansed territory,
Serbia ended up as a country with a highest percentage of
minorities and lost charge of Kosovo.
• Serbian state is still organized on the basis of a dominant
nation, together will elements of Christian Orthodox
clericalism. Minorities virtually invisible, heavy influx of
Bosnian and Croatian Serbs, who used to be privileged
and constructed a pillar of Milosevic`s power.
• Kosovo: Albanians heavily oppressed mainly by Serbs,
after the NATO intervention, they oppress others.
Serbia
• Vojvodina: some 20 nations, mainly Serbs and
Hungarians, fight for autonomy, some degree of
multiethnic tolerance
• Sandzak: area between Serbia and Montenegro, mostly
populated by Bosniaks, potential conflict
• Serbs: still don`t “believe” crimes were committed by
their state and on their behalf. ICTY is largely regarded
by both Serbs and Croats as biased.
• The state of BiH sues the state of Serbia for invasion and
seeks reparation.
Montenegro
• Constituted from Montenegrins, Serbs, Bosniaks,
Albanians. Partially independent from Serbia,
referendum expected.
• The most multicultural environment, partly
because the common opposition to Serbian
claims in Montenegro.
Macedonia
• Main opposition between Macedonians
and Albanians, threat of a civil war.
• Still not completely recognized by the
international community – that creates
problems, too.
• A high percentage of Roma.
Conclusion
• Sharp decline of minority rights in postcommunist post-war situation.
• Majorities profited from it, but only
partially.
• The rising question: European integration
and relation to minorities.