DOCSLIB.ORG

The Anti-Capitalist Mentality and Ill-Fated Transition: Case of Serbia MISES: Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy Law and Economics, Vol

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Anti-Capitalist Mentality and Ill-Fated Transition: Case of Serbia MISES: Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy Law and Economics, Vol MISES: Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy Law and Economics ISSN: 2318-0811 ISSN: 2594-9187 Instituto Ludwig von Mises - Brasil Novakovic, Aleksandar; Dostanic, Dusan The anti-capitalist mentality and ill-fated transition: case of Serbia MISES: Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy Law and Economics, vol. 6, Esp., 2018, pp. 589-620 Instituto Ludwig von Mises - Brasil DOI: 10.30800/mises.2018.v0.563 Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=586364252004 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System Redalyc More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Journal's webpage in redalyc.org Portugal Project academic non-profit, developed under the open access initiative MISES: Revista Interdisciplinar de Filosofia, Direito e Economia ISSN 2318-0811 Volume VI, Special Issue 2018 : 589-620 The anti-capitalist mentality and ill-fated transition: case of Serbia Aleksandar Novakovic* Dusan Dostanic** Abstract: This paper aims to show how the legacy of socialism with a human face represents a far more serious obstacle for the postsocialist transition than the heritage of rigid socialism. This is because an amalgamation of the perception of the autochthonous character of socialism accompanied by the perception of its soft, human face, creates an anti-capitalist mentality (Ludwig von Mises) that leaves an enormous impact on the long-term understandings of the concepts of individual, society, state, and reforms. This sort of mentality is deeply entrenched in Serbia, where a full-scale process of “debolshevization” has never been initiated. The continuity with socialist legacy is apparent in key segments of the ill-fated transition: political, institutional, economic, symbolical, and no less moral. Keywords: Anti-capitalist mentality, debolshevization, soft and rigid socialism, transition, free-market A Mentalidade Anti-capitalista e a transição mal sucedida: O caso da Sérvia Resumo: Este artigo pretende mostrar como o legado do socialismo humanizado representa um obstáculo muito mais sério para a transição pós-socialista do que a herança do socialismo rígido. Isso ocorre porque uma fusão da percepção do caráter autóctone do socialismo acompanhado pela percepção de sua face humana suave cria uma mentalidade anticapitalista (Ludwig von Mises) que deixa um enorme impacto nos entendimentos de longo prazo dos conceitos de indivíduo, sociedade, estado e reformas. Esse tipo de mentalidade está profundamente arraigado na Sérvia, onde um processo em escala de “desbolchevismo” nunca foi iniciado. A continuidade com o legado socialista é aparente em segmentos-chave da malfadada transição: política, institucional, econômica, simbólica e não menos moral. Palavras-chave: Mentalidade anticapitalista, desbolchevismo, socialismo suave e rígido, transição, livre mercado Classificação JEL: P20, B24, O52 * Aleksandar Novakovic, PhD. Research Associate at the Institute for Political Studies, Belgrade [email protected] ** Dusan Dostanic, PhD. Research Associate at the Institute for Political Studies, Belgrade [email protected] https://doi.org/10.30800/mises.2018.v0.563 Diagramação e XML SciELO Publishing Schema: www.editoraletra1.com.br | [email protected] 590 THE ANTI-CAPITALIST MENTALITY AND ILL-FATED TRANSITION: CASE OF SERBIA Introduction communist dictatorship have determined the subsequent transitional path toward Post-communist transition scholars democracy and capitalism. have not accorded due attention to the Within the literature, if at all, “soft distinction between the legacies of soft and socialism” is treated through the idea of rigid communism in transitional change. Yugoslav socialism, its “third way” between The reason behind this is understandable. capitalist West and communist East and Transitology seeks to explain the character, the idea of “nonalignment movement”, scope and pace of the changes from a state workers’ self-management and partial of a centrally-planned economy and political economic liberalization during the seventies authoritarianism towards one of democracy (HOFFMAN; NEAL, 1962; RUSINOW, 1977; and a market-oriented economy (LINZ; LYDALL, 1984; DENITCH, 1990; PEJOVICH, STEPAN, 1996; DOBRY, 2000; BALCEROWICZ, 1990, LAKIĆEVIĆ, 2013; 2014). 2002). Therefore, the most vivid and This was perceived as a “modernizing”, historically dominant form of communism “enlightened” and “liberal” version of has been selected as the starting point of socialism that permitted various kinds of the analysis: Soviet-type socialism, present freedoms – an experience allegedly unfamiliar paradigmatically behind the Iron Curtain. to the rest of the communist world. In fact, This brand of communism represents the some Soviet satellite countries experienced archetype of the centrally-planned economy a milder kind of communism too when a and the system of political oppression which totalitarian cramp weakened enough to render new democracies so enthusiastically distanced preferable life conditions. Understandable, themselves from. But what about the so-called this fact never gained much prominence “soft-socialism” and its legacy? How can we among the population of those countries. The locate its significance in our understanding whiff of freedom came through benevolent of post-communist transformation? acts of the great patron and not as a result of It is difficult to answer this question, since autonomous actions by the satellites. it is assumed that it is not an issue in the first No systematic investigation has been place and even less a problem. That is, the performed on the influence of the legacy soft socialism is not the problem, rather, it is of this kind of socialism to the transitional presupposed as something good or at least economies of former Yugoslavia1. Actually, the lesser evil. The true evil is rigid socialism. And indeed, for the people who lived 1 An illustrative example is a study by Milica Uvalic behind the Iron Curtain that really was regarding Serbia’s transition, where she tried to explain why Serbia, after the “good starting position not a dilemma. For them it was certainly in 1989, has encountered substantial delays in carrying preferable to live under some socialist rule forward the main objectives of the transition to a that seemed to be more moderate than under market economy and multiparty democracy.” She argues that transition in Serbia was slowed down by a hard stick of Stalinism. Without questioning internal and international constrains. However, the this, we want to investigate how positive life influence of socialist legacy was not discussed in the experiences under allegedly more liberal book. In fact, Yugoslav socialism was briefly depicted as “market socialism” which was more favorable version of socialism in comparison with than socialism in other Eastern European countries negative life experiences under stronger (UVALIC, 2010, p.2-20). Diagramação e XML SciELO Publishing Schema: www.editoraletra1.com.br | [email protected] MISES: Revista Interdisciplinar de Filosofia, Direito e Economia 591 Aleksandar Novakovic & Dusan Dostanic much of economic literature on the Serbian accompanying consequences it spontaneously transition has focused on the period produced. Factors such as rigidity or softness after 2000 (BEGOVIĆ, 2005a). This might of a certain order and its ideology and the represent a serious obstacle to the objective perceptions about the autochthonous and evaluation of transitional performances of externally imposed ideology or system must ex-Yugoslav states, especially Serbia, since a be considered as well. positive representation of the quality of life These conceptual considerations should and economical accomplishments of Tito’s illustrate how different combinations of Yugoslavia survived the bloody dissolution factors may explain diverse transitional 2 of the state . performances. A mixture of softness and Thus, it is important to see to what extent autochthony is peculiarly detrimental for these reminiscences of the communist past transitional societies having in mind its have influenced the mind and spirit of the impact on economic, institutional, political, transitional man, his general understandings moral and symbolic transition. To paraphrase of society, economy, religion and tradition, his Friedrich Hayek, we can say that soft socialism views of the relationship between individual is the most dangerous conceit (HAYEK, 1992). and society, as well as his attitude toward pre- The transitional experience of Serbia, communist and communist past. In a word, a country traditionally proud of the it is important to investigate and elucidate “achievements” of Yugoslav socialism (also the specific “mentality” of an ordinary man called “Titoism” after Josip Broz Tito) should that defines his understanding of society and confirm this conclusion. Here, the peculiar survives and is conveyed into a different time form of socialism with a human face produced and historical context, becoming either an a long-lasting and deeply entrenched obstacle or an asset of the new era. Thus, mentality that has erected a barrier to social the main question of our paper could also and economic improvement. be formulated as follows: How does a certain type of socialism affect the mentality of a It is beyond any doubt that this mindset transitional man? composed only one aspect of the wider To answer this question, it is necessary to phenomenon that Ludwig von Mises called expand the mainstream analysis
Load more

Recommended publications
  • SERBIA Jovanka Matić and Dubravka Valić Nedeljković
    SERBIA Jovanka Matić and Dubravka Valić Nedeljković porocilo.indb 327 20.5.2014 9:04:47 INTRODUCTION Serbia’s transition to democratic governance started in 2000. Reconstruction of the media system – aimed at developing free, independent and pluralistic media – was an important part of reform processes. After 13 years of democratisation eff orts, no one can argue that a new media system has not been put in place. Th e system is pluralistic; the media are predominantly in private ownership; the legal framework includes European democratic standards; broadcasting is regulated by bodies separated from executive state power; public service broadcasters have evolved from the former state-run radio and tel- evision company which acted as a pillar of the fallen autocratic regime. However, there is no public consensus that the changes have produced more positive than negative results. Th e media sector is liberalized but this has not brought a better-in- formed public. Media freedom has been expanded but it has endangered the concept of socially responsible journalism. Among about 1200 media outlets many have neither po- litical nor economic independence. Th e only industrial segments on the rise are the enter- tainment press and cable channels featuring reality shows and entertainment. Th e level of professionalism and reputation of journalists have been drastically reduced. Th e current media system suff ers from many weaknesses. Media legislation is incom- plete, inconsistent and outdated. Privatisation of state-owned media, stipulated as mandato- ry 10 years ago, is uncompleted. Th e media market is very poorly regulated resulting in dras- tically unequal conditions for state-owned and private media.
    [Show full text]
  • ESS9 Appendix A3 Political Parties Ed
    APPENDIX A3 POLITICAL PARTIES, ESS9 - 2018 ed. 3.0 Austria 2 Belgium 4 Bulgaria 7 Croatia 8 Cyprus 10 Czechia 12 Denmark 14 Estonia 15 Finland 17 France 19 Germany 20 Hungary 21 Iceland 23 Ireland 25 Italy 26 Latvia 28 Lithuania 31 Montenegro 34 Netherlands 36 Norway 38 Poland 40 Portugal 44 Serbia 47 Slovakia 52 Slovenia 53 Spain 54 Sweden 57 Switzerland 58 United Kingdom 61 Version Notes, ESS9 Appendix A3 POLITICAL PARTIES ESS9 edition 3.0 (published 10.12.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Denmark, Iceland. ESS9 edition 2.0 (published 15.06.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden. Austria 1. Political parties Language used in data file: German Year of last election: 2017 Official party names, English 1. Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) - Social Democratic Party of Austria - 26.9 % names/translation, and size in last 2. Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) - Austrian People's Party - 31.5 % election: 3. Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) - Freedom Party of Austria - 26.0 % 4. Liste Peter Pilz (PILZ) - PILZ - 4.4 % 5. Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne) - The Greens – The Green Alternative - 3.8 % 6. Kommunistische Partei Österreichs (KPÖ) - Communist Party of Austria - 0.8 % 7. NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) - NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum - 5.3 % 8. G!LT - Verein zur Förderung der Offenen Demokratie (GILT) - My Vote Counts! - 1.0 % Description of political parties listed 1. The Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a social above democratic/center-left political party that was founded in 1888 as the Social Democratic Worker's Party (Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei, or SDAP), when Victor Adler managed to unite the various opposing factions.
    [Show full text]
  • OHR Bih Media Round-Up, 10/9/2002
    OHR BiH Media Round-up, 10/9/2002 Print Media Headlines Oslobodjenje: FOSS Affair – mole in the top of the Federation Dnevni Avaz: Izetbegovic on FOSS report – Equating us with terrorists will not pass Jutarnje Novine: NDI poll – Silajdzic keeps trust of voters Nezavisne Novine: Two nights ago in Kozarac near Prijedor: Policeman wounded; Banja Luka: Nikola Miscevic detained Blic: Warner Blatter – Demographics never to be same again; Yugoslavia, the champion Glas Srpski: Two nights ago in Kozarac near Prijedor: Policeman wounded; Banja Luka: Nikola Miscevic detained Dnevni List: Expelled Drvar Croats denied Croatian documents Vecernji List: Yugoslav supporters go on rampage in the RS; Deputy Federation Finance Minister protests lottery RS Issues During a press conference following his meeting with representatives of the OHR and the World Bank about electric power distribution and payment of pensions, the RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic, said that the RS government had nothing to do with the controversial Srebrenica report. “Firstly, this report was not officially published, it was presented by the media. The report never passed through official procedure. Just to remind you, the government bureau did present the report at a press conference after one part of the report was published in the media… The RS government will not endorse any report which would constitute its own, definitive view about the events. We know that what happened there was a crime…However, the final truth about Srebrenica ought to be presented by historians and experts, not by politicians.” (BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje p. 9, Vecernji List p. 2, Blic p.
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of Media Coverage of ICTY Verdicts in Croatian and Serbian Media
    How (not) to reconcile: An analysis of media coverage of ICTY verdicts in Croatian and Serbian media by Sara Ana Cemazar Submitted to Central European University Department of Political Science In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Supervisor: Dr. Oana Lup CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2018 Abstract This thesis investigates media coverage of International Criminal Court for former Yugoslavia’s verdicts in Croatia and Serbia in three cases. This Court was established to deal with atrocities committed during conflict between these two countries in the 1990-es and it set out to perpetrate the guilty. By using thematic and framing analysis on more than 250 articles in four newspapers, it can be seen that the observed verdicts to Gotovina et al., Karadzic and Prlic et al. were perceived ambivalently in two countries, which extends to the ongoing duality of narratives present in understanding common history between Croatia and Serbia. If the verdict’s outcome was perceived as favorable to the country, it was portrayed as just in the media, and vice versa. Given that this Court’s indirect aims were to individualize guilt and facilitate reconciliation, this study argues that this was not achieved. Namely, by media reporting that helped encourage collectivity of the guilt or innocence as an outcome of a verdict to an individual, reconciliation process between two nations was not made easier. CEU eTD Collection i Acknowledgements Since my MA Thesis marks the culmination of my education so far, I must acknowledge many people that have helped me on this way.
    [Show full text]
  • THE WARP of the SERBIAN IDENTITY Anti-Westernism, Russophilia, Traditionalism
    HELSINKI COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA studies17 THE WARP OF THE SERBIAN IDENTITY anti-westernism, russophilia, traditionalism... BELGRADE, 2016 THE WARP OF THE SERBIAN IDENTITY Anti-westernism, russophilia, traditionalism… Edition: Studies No. 17 Publisher: Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia www.helsinki.org.rs For the publisher: Sonja Biserko Reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Dubravka Stojanović Prof. Dr. Momir Samardžić Dr Hrvoje Klasić Layout and design: Ivan Hrašovec Printed by: Grafiprof, Belgrade Circulation: 200 ISBN 978-86-7208-203-6 This publication is a part of the project “Serbian Identity in the 21st Century” implemented with the assistance from the Open Society Foundation – Serbia. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Open Society Foundation – Serbia. CONTENTS Publisher’s Note . 5 TRANSITION AND IDENTITIES JOVAN KOMŠIĆ Democratic Transition And Identities . 11 LATINKA PEROVIĆ Serbian-Russian Historical Analogies . 57 MILAN SUBOTIĆ, A Different Russia: From Serbia’s Perspective . 83 SRĐAN BARIŠIĆ The Role of the Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches in Shaping Governmental Policies . 105 RUSSIA’S SOFT POWER DR. JELICA KURJAK “Soft Power” in the Service of Foreign Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation . 129 DR MILIVOJ BEŠLIN A “New” History For A New Identity . 139 SONJA BISERKO, SEŠKA STANOJLOVIĆ Russia’s Soft Power Expands . 157 SERBIA, EU, EAST DR BORIS VARGA Belgrade And Kiev Between Brussels And Moscow . 169 DIMITRIJE BOAROV More Politics Than Business . 215 PETAR POPOVIĆ Serbian-Russian Joint Military Exercise . 235 SONJA BISERKO Russia and NATO: A Test of Strength over Montenegro .
    [Show full text]
  • Serbia Guidebook 2013
    SERBIA PREFACE A visit to Serbia places one in the center of the Balkans, the 20th century's tinderbox of Europe, where two wars were fought as prelude to World War I and where the last decade of the century witnessed Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II. Serbia chose democracy in the waning days before the 21st century formally dawned and is steadily transforming an open, democratic, free-market society. Serbia offers a countryside that is beautiful and diverse. The country's infrastructure, though over-burdened, is European. The general reaction of the local population is genuinely one of welcome. The local population is warm and focused on the future; assuming their rightful place in Europe. AREA, GEOGRAPHY, AND CLIMATE Serbia is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula and occupies 77,474square kilometers, an area slightly smaller than South Carolina. It borders Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to the west, Hungary to the north, Romania and Bulgaria to the east, and Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo to the south. Serbia's many waterway, road, rail, and telecommunications networks link Europe with Asia at a strategic intersection in southeastern Europe. Endowed with natural beauty, Serbia is rich in varied topography and climate. Three navigable rivers pass through Serbia: the Danube, Sava, and Tisa. The longest is the Danube, which flows for 588 of its 2,857-kilometer course through Serbia and meanders around the capital, Belgrade, on its way to Romania and the Black Sea. The fertile flatlands of the Panonian Plain distinguish Serbia's northern countryside, while the east flaunts dramatic limestone ranges and basins.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrorist Threats by Balkans Radical Islamist to International Security
    Darko Trifunović1 Оригинални научни рад University of Belgrade UDK 323.285:28]:355.02(497) Serbia Milan Mijalkovski2 University of Belgrade Serbia TERRORIST THREATS BY BALKANS RADICAL ISLAMIST TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY Abstract The decade-long armed conflict in the Balkans from 1991 to 2001, greatly misrepresented in the Western public, were the biggest defeat for the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, a great defeat for Europe - but a victory for global jihad. Radical Islamists used the wars to recruit a large number of Sunni Muslims in the Balkans (Bosnian and Herzagovina and Albanian) for the cause of political Islam and militant Jihad. Converts to Wahhabi Islam not only provide recruits for the so-called “White Al-Qaeda,” but also exhibit growing territorial claims and seek the establishment of a “Balkan Caliphate.” Powers outside the Balkans re- gard this with indifference or even tacit approval. Radical Islamist activity is en- dangering the security of not only Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia- Herzegovina, but also Europe and the world. Key Words: Balkans, Wahhabi, Salafi, radical Islamist, terrorism, Al-Qaeda Introduction In order to understand correctly the ongoing processes in the Islamic circles in the Balkans, it is necessary to understand all processes that occurred and occur in the Middle East and its circles of Islamic fundamentalists. Balkans’ groups of Islamic fundamentalists are inextricably connected with organizations of Islamic fundamentalists originating from the Middle East. Early as 1989, Prof. dr Miroljub Jevtić, one of the most eminent political scientists of religion, had been warning on danger and connection of the Middle East Islamic fundamen- talists with the ones on the Balkans sharing the same ideas3.
    [Show full text]
  • Slučaj Savamala
    SLUČAJ SAVAMALA 2018 Impresum Izdavač Civil Rights Defenders Za izdavača Goran Miletić Direktor za Evropu Autorka Prof. dr Snježana Milivojević Koordinatori istraživanja Bojana Barlovac Miloš Stanković Istraživački tim Ana Paraušić Anja Šušak Gala Đurđević Emina Muminović Snežana Bajčeta Snežana Đapić Lektura Anica Milenković Dizajn Marko Kovačevski Štampa Zeppelin Pro Tiraž 400 SLUČAJ SAVAMALA SADRŽAJ 1. KLJUČNI NALAZI 06 2. O ISTRAŽIVANJU 08 2.1. Značaj dnevnih novina 08 2.2. Ciljevi istraživanja 09 3. REZULTATI ISTRAŽIVANJA 11 3.1. Obim izveštavanja 12 Medijski ambijent: tiraži i vrste novina 12 Učestalost izveštavanja: ukupni broj tekstova 13 Obim izveštavanja: ukupna veličina tekstova 14 3.2. Forma izveštavanja 15 Najava na naslovnoj strani 15 Veličina pojedinačnih priloga 16 Vrsta priloga 17 Ukupan broj ilustracija 18 Vrsta ilustracije 19 Povod za izveštavanje 20 3.3. Sadržina izveštavanja 21 Tema 21 Značaj teme 22 Okvir / pristup temi 23 Izvor 24 Akteri 25 Tretman aktera 26 Uloga aktera u prilogu 27 4. ZAKLJUČCI 29 |2018 5 KLJUČNI NALAZI Mediji su tokom čitave godine izveštavali o ‘slučaju Savamala’ prilično neujednačeno i sa očigledno opadajućim interesovanjem iako počinioci rušenja objekata u Hercegovačkoj nisu otkriveni, a odgovornost nije utvrđena. Događaji koji su sastavni deo ‘slučaja Savamala’ bili su tema u ukupno 706 priloga u svih šest novina, a u još 527 tekstova slučaj je samo uzgred pomenut. Način izveštavanja je u direktnoj vezi sa (1) tiražom, (2) vrstom i (3) uređivačkom politikom dnevnih novina. Što je tiraž veći to je obim izveštavanja manji. Što je tiraž veći to je pristrasnost u izveštavanju veća, objektivnost manja, a kritičnost prema vlasti najmanja.
    [Show full text]
  • Media News Bulletin No 4
    Issue No. 4 May 12 – May 24, 2011 Content New negative assessments of the media situation – Draft Media Strategy to be completed by June 1 – Protests against lenient sentences for attackers on journalists continue – Lawsuit filed against the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance – Prosecutor's Office investigates warmongering propaganda – Further escalation of attacks and threats against journalists and the media – New desecration of the memorial plate dedicated to Curuvija . ASMEDI becomes member of the ENPA – Assembly of the European Federation of Journalists to be held in Belgrade – Web site Juzne Vesti has 6,000 visits a day – Awards to journalists and the media - 500th issue of REPUBLIKA – Apology of the Managing Board of the Public Service Broadcaster and reactions – BETA protests to NUNS . SBB increases prices again – Revenue of RTV grows – Analysis of business results of the media – Municipality wants to become owner of Pancevac again – Securities Commission examines privatization of Novosti – Media boycott of the Municipal Assembly in Bajina Basta – Agreement on airing of parliamentary sessions soon to be reached – Radio Bor begins broadcasting programe again . Protests by NUNS, NDNV, UNS and SEEMO against attacks on journalists and light sentences for attackers – RATEL publishes roaming tariffs – RRA punishes overstepping of advertising limits – President of RRA violates Church canons, claims "ALO!" – Media trade unions of Politika hold a protest – Media strikes in Smederevo and Kragujevac . PI channel Pirot available on GSS IPTV network – Supplement of Danas, "Sandzak", published in Istanbul – Redesigned web site 24Sata – New morning programme of Radio B92 – ABC Serbia in new business premises Assessments of the current media situation in Serbia The media situation in Serbia has worsened since 2006, shows the Media Sustainability Index (MSI) for the year of 2010 issued by IREX, an American NGO for support to the media.
    [Show full text]
  • Chronology of Events – a Brief History of Otpor PUBLISHED by CANVAS
    Chronology of Events – A Brief History of Otpor PUBLISHED BY CANVAS Designed by Duda Nenad Petrovic RESISTANCE! Chronology of Events – A Brief History of Otpor Chronology of Events – A Brief History of Otpor May 26, 1998 – University Act passed. November 4, 1998 – The concert organized by the ANEM (Association of Independent Electronic Media) under the October 20, 1998 – Media Act passed. slogan “It’s not like Serbs to be quiet” was held. Otpor ac- tivists launched a seven-day action “Resistance is the an- End of October 1998 – In response to the new Univer- swer”, within which they distributed flyers with provocative sity Act and Media Act, which were contrary to students’ questions relating to endless resignation and suffering of interests, the Student Movement Otpor was formed. all that we had been going through and slogans such as Among Otpor’s founders were Srdja Popovic, Slobodan “Bite the system, live the resistance”. Homen, Slobodan Djinovic, Nenad Konstantinovic, Vu- kasin Petrovic, Ivan Andric, Jovan Ratkovic, Andreja Sta- menokovic, Dejan Randjic, Ivan Marovic. The group was soon joined by Milja Jovanovic, Branko Ilic, Pedja Lecic, Sinisa Sikman, Vlada Pavlov from Novi Sad, Stanko La- zentic, Milan Gagic, Jelena Urosevic and Zoran Matovic from Kragujevac and Srdjan Milivojevic from Krusevac. In the beginning, among the core creators of Otpor were Bo- ris Karaicic, Miodrag Gavrilovic, Miroslav Hristodulo, Ras- tko Sejic, Aleksa Grgurevic and Aleksandar Topalovic, but they left the organization later. During this period, Nenad Petrovic, nicknamed Duda, a Belgrade-based designer, designed the symbol of Otpor – a clenched fist. In the night between November 2 and 3, 1998, four students were arrested for spraying the fist and slogans “Death to fascism” and “Resistance for freedom”: Teodo- ra Tabacki, Marina Glisic, Dragana Milinkovic and Nikola Vasiljevic.
    [Show full text]
  • Media News Bulletin Home
    Issue No. 34 July 20 - August 3, 2012 Content Otasevic: RT Vojvodina has improved its programme – Vucic, Dinkic and Braca Petkovic to be in charge of media policy – Media professionals express skepticism – What is the interest of the buyer of Politika? - The new president of the Parliament does not know whether a new Law on Information will be prepared – UNS: The media has an important role in negotiations with the EU – The media in Southeast Europe are under increasing influence of politics, says SEEMO – Council of Europe expresses similar opinion – Editors of Politika: Political control over Politika continues – Vucic announces revoking of the Law on Information – Obradovic is opposed to formation of regional public service broadcasters – RTS programme is criticized – Will V. Eric replace A. Tijanic? - Percentage of paid TV fee is low – Neighborhood of Kursumlija is not covered by the RTS signal, but the bills are coming – Citizens of Subotica are opposed to the TV fee – V. Ilic attacks journalist – Ilic apologizes – Crew of RTV Velika Kikinda is attacked – Journalist gets fired for criticizing the director – International Initiative for Monitoring of Anti-Serbianism to sue Beta and Blic – Attacker on property ot TV Apatin is prosecuted – Journalist ends up in jail: the case of Laslo Sas – Protests from Serbia and abroad follow – Sas asks for pardon – Rights of minorities are better on paper than in practice, says the EU Monitoring Mission – National Council of Hungarians wants to take over Radio Subotica – Director of RTV Panon is
    [Show full text]
  • Ivana Pantelić John Stuart Mill in Nineteenth-Century Serbia
    Ivana Pantelić DOI:10.2298/BALC0940085P Original scholarly work Institute of Contemporary History Belgrade John Stuart Mill in Nineteenth-century Serbia: Influence on Political Thought and Gender Issues Abstract: The paper deals with the reception of J. S. Mill’s writings by contemporary Serbian intellectuals. As shown in the paper, the impact that Millean ideas made on many important Serbian politicians and philosophers from all parts of the political spectrum was broad and profound. Special attention is paid to the work of liberal and socialist thinkers, notably Vladimir Jovanović and Svetozar Marković. The influence of Mill’s ideas on Serbia’s political development is also examined, as well as how Mill’s attitude towards the question of women’s rights impacted contemporary Serbian po- litical thought. Key words: John Stuart Mill, Serbia, Vladimir Jovanović, Svetozar Marković, Petar Kara-djordjević, liberalism, women’s rights, politics y the 1860s Great Britain and Serbia had had three decades of regular diplomatic relations behind them. As Serbia was only an autonomous principalityB under Ottoman suzerainty at the time, from 1837 the rela- tions were maintained through the British consul general in Belgrade and the ambassador in Constantinople. The relations between the largest em- pire in the world and a small autonomous principality landlocked on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire were very complex, though. Great Brit- ain sought to thwart Russia’s penetration into the Balkans and to contain her influence. British policy was controversial inasmuch as it supported the preservation of the Ottoman Empire and the emancipation of the Principality of Serbia at the same time.
    [Show full text]