Historiography on the Cold War in Yugoslavia: from ideology to science

Abstract

The historiography on the ‘Cold War’, as written by Serbian and Yugoslavian historians, developed through many phases. These were defined by political and social circumstances, accessibility of historical sources, as well as the expertise and sensibility of generations of historians. In general, there was little of sustained and systematic research on the history of the Cold War. The post-Second World War Yugoslav historiography is ‘full of blanks’. At the same time, however, it is important to acknowledge that it progressed along the long road from claim, as a form of ideological thought, to knowledge which is never final.

Notes

Ljubodrag Dimić is a Professor in the Department for the History of Yugoslavia, University of Belgrade. Professor Dimić is one of the founding members of the Centre for the Contemporary History of the South-East Europe, as well as of the Centre for the History of Yugoslavia and the Cold War, and is an Associate member of the LSE Cold War Studies Centre. He is member of the Editorial Boards a number of historic journals in Serbia and Montenegro, including the Yugoslav Historical Journal (Deputy Chief Editor) and Teaching History. Professor Dimić headed the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation, appointed by the President of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2001. His main research interests are: the history of Yugoslavia and the Balkans, in particular the relationship between history and society and between state and religion; minority questions; the role of inteligentsia; the history of institutions; the history of historiography; wide range of topics related to the phenomena of foreign cultural, political, and modernizing influences, and relations. Professor Dimić is author or co-author of 15 books and over 160 other titles.

 [1] Words of Leopold Ranke, Mitrovic, Propitivanje Klio, 109.

 [2] CPY members became acquainted with the implementation of the Marxism-Leninism method in history through the works of J. V. Stalin, A. Zdanov, S. Kirov, G. Dimitrov, etc.

 [3] In order for the tradition to serve its purpose to the revolution it had to be ‘Marxistically’ illuminated in a ‘new way’; in other words it had to be ‘of the party’, ‘realistic’ in its form, ‘progressive’ in content, ‘social’ and ‘of the people’. For further information, see Dimic, Agitprop kultura, 55–73.

 [4] Novak, ‘Jugoslovenska istriograpfija.’

 [5] The Words of Kardelj were taken from Stankovic and Dimic, Istoriografia pod Nadzorom, 1996, 262–63. (Speech of E. Kardelj on the meeting of the Ideological Commission of Central Committee, UYC, April 22, 1959, AJ, CK SKJ, VIII, 11-2-b-120).

 [6] To enforce Yugoslavia's position on these issues, the services of eminent scholars were utilized, such as the philologist A. Belic, historians V. Novak, F. Zwittwra, A. Melik, economic historian M. Markovic, military historian P. Skok, and others.

 [7] Tito, ‘Political Report’, 790–791.

 [8] Words of E. Kardelj at the meeting of the Ideological Committee held in 1958, dedicated to historical institutes, cited per: Stanovic and Dimic, Istoriografija pod Nadzorom, 262–263.

 [9] Petranovic, Istorija Jugoslavije 1918–1978; Bilandzic, Historija SFRJ; Petranovic, Istorija Jugoslavije 1918–1988.

[10] Documents regarding the foreign politics of Yugoslavia; Dedijer, Documents of 1948 ; Documents about the development of non-aligned countries ; Petranovic and Zecevic, Yugoslavia 1918–1988.

[11] New research is based on material in very rich archives and collections: Archives of Yugoslavia, Archives of Serbia, Archives of the Military–Historical Institute, Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Archives of J. B. Tito.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ljubodrag Dimić

Ljubodrag Dimić is a Professor in the Department for the History of Yugoslavia, University of Belgrade. Professor Dimić is one of the founding members of the Centre for the Contemporary History of the South-East Europe, as well as of the Centre for the History of Yugoslavia and the Cold War, and is an Associate member of the LSE Cold War Studies Centre. He is member of the Editorial Boards a number of historic journals in Serbia and Montenegro, including the Yugoslav Historical Journal (Deputy Chief Editor) and Teaching History. Professor Dimić headed the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation, appointed by the President of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2001. His main research interests are: the history of Yugoslavia and the Balkans, in particular the relationship between history and society and between state and religion; minority questions; the role of inteligentsia; the history of institutions; the history of historiography; wide range of topics related to the phenomena of foreign cultural, political, and modernizing influences, and relations. Professor Dimić is author or co-author of 15 books and over 160 other titles.