Political Portrait of Jovan Rašković, 1970–1976

Abstract

The article deals with the opposition activities of the first chairman of the Serbian Democratic Party in Croatia, the psychiatrist Jovan Rašković in 1970–1976. During this period, he became well-known as a supporter of liberal and Serbian national values. In his writings, the scientist, speaking as an advocate of antipsychiatry ideas, openly declares the imperfections of the Yugoslav society. Analyzing the causes of certain social phenomena in various social systems, he points to the inefficiency of the SFRY development, advocates the abolition of the self-government system and the liberalization of the regime. Rašković perceives the “Maspok” movement with anxiety and, contrary to it, participates in the activities of the Serbian Cultural Society “Prosvjeta”. After the suppression of the “Croatian spring”, he speaks negatively about the situation of Serbian culture in Croatia in conversations with the government officials. Dissatisfaction with the situation in SFRY predetermined Rašković‘s active interaction with nationally oriented Serbian opposition circles. Throughout the whole period, he maintained friendly relations with the Orthodox clergy, in the mid-1970s he became close to Serbian dissidents. There is no doubt that the scholar’s views formed during this period, valuable contacts, connections and experiences of this period determined a number of important features of his further rise as a political figure, the creation and activities of the Serb Democratic Party in 1990.