Critical analysis of political system in Yugoslav socialism: Jovan Miric’s theoretical contribution

Abstract

In this article we analyse theoretical contribution to critical analysis of political system of socialist Yugoslavia by (1934-2015), professor of Political Science at University of Zagreb. The article focesses on his writings during the socialist period (before 1989). Of 10 books he published during his life, five are relevant for the topic of this paper: Interest Groups and Political Power (1973), Work and Politics (1978), Pluralism of Interests and Self-Managing Democracy (1982), System and Crisis (1984) and Challenges of Democracy (1990). We also refer to the book of his interviews and articles, which was published after his death. In is writings Miric gave interesting and relevant contribution to Marxist Political Science, both in terms of his theoretical work and in his analysis of Yugoslav Political System. In later period, from 1989 onwards, he evolves towards Liberalism, but remains highly critical towards the objects of his analysis. Critical thinking remained a continuity in his writings and public appearences, in both his Marxist and Liberal phases. His articles on the origins of the crisis of Yugoslav Political System were in fact warnings that Yugoslavia could collapse, largely due to its own internal structure and the lack of trust between various segments of its political elites. In this sense, Miric?s work justifies the question of predictability of events that soon led to collapse of socialism and of Yugoslavia as state. Miric already in 1987 mentions civil war as one of possible outcomes of the Yugoslav crisis. His work challenges conclusion that 1989 in Europe and 1991 in former Yugoslavia were completely unpredictable, and that these moments were (two) Black Fridays in social and political sciences.