engleski

Preconflict elections in the former Yugoslavia: Elections, war and 'alternative facts' in a country whose collapse heralded global trends

The former Yugoslavia is one of three socialist federations in Europe which dissolved after the end of the Cold War. And it is the only one whose dissolution proceeded in a multi-stage armed conflict which over ten years (1991-2001) extended to almost all parts of the former state, or all states which succeeded it. The first democratic multi-party elections in the former Yugoslavia were held in 1990, a year before the dissolution of the state and the beginning of the war. These elections were not held simultaneously in the whole country, but over several months from the spring to winter of 1990 in particular republics which made up the Yugoslav federation. In relation to other former socialist countries in Central and East Europe which were members of the Warsaw Pact and under the Soviet doctrine of limited sovereignty, the former Yugoslavia had, particularly in the second half of the 1980s, more liberal regime. This in turn enabled greater media freedom which in the context of the rise of inter-republic and inter-ethnic tensions favoured the atmosphere of the preparations for the armed conflict, especially after all republics in democratic elections gained new leaderships with full legitimacy. In this way, Yugoslavia became the only European state which after the end of the Second World War experienced a high intensity armed conflict whose consequences are felt even today. Considering the fact that the years long placing of 'alternative facts' in the Yugoslav political and media space in the eve of the beginning of the war additionally intensified the mentioned tensions, and the elections immediately preceded the armed dissolution of the country, it is necessary to distinguish in which way and – why the beginning of the democratic transition in the former Yugoslavia, instead of a peaceful solution of the conflict, caused a violent conflict. By using a focused comparative method this essay answers this question by analysing the similarities of the Yugoslav case with current processes in the world.

preconflict elections ; the former Yugoslavia ; war ; alternative facts

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