The paper is about the First National Hygiene Exposition in Belgrade in 1933. It was one of the m... more The paper is about the First National Hygiene Exposition in Belgrade in 1933. It was one of the most significant events and an important part of the cultural policy in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia at that time. It was also the last one in a series of great events under the high patronage of King Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic. In order to make research in the novelties the exposition introduced, the thus far unpublished archival material has been studied along with the situation drawings of the complex and the restaurant, photo documentation and the exposition presentation in the newspapers of the time, as well as the published material. The aim of the paper is to emphasize the significance of the exposition, its dominant health and education concept with regard to social improvements for the benefit of the general public, all in the context of the period and under conditions it was organized. The paper also aims at presenting a comprehensive view of the exposition impact on the history o...
| Ideology is in the political and cultural sense a relatively connected and determined set of id... more | Ideology is in the political and cultural sense a relatively connected and determined set of ideas, symbolic representations, values, beliefs and forms of thoughts, behaviours, expressions, representations and actings which are common to members of a social group, members of political parties, state institutions or social classes. In literature the notion of ideology is introduced in several, often equally valued and variant, but contrary ways: (1) ideology is a set of positive and pragmatic beliefs, values, forms of behaviours, and actings shared by a group of theoreticians or practicians, i.e., members of a culture or specific differentiated formations in the frames of a culture, (2) ideology is a set of false representations, false beliefs and effects of illusions shared by members of a social strata, class, nation, political party, specific culture or world of art, which project possible, actual and immediate world of existence, (3) ideology is phantasmatic construction which serves as support to our reality, in other words, it is an illusion which structures effective social relations and masks traumatic social divisions or confrontations which could not be symbolized, therefore function of ideology is to supply us with bearable social reality, (5) by ideology it is referred to meanings, sense and values of structure power which particular social formation or society practice as a whole or to which it tends, etc. Louis Althusser defined ideology as representation of imaginary relations of individual to his or her real conditions of existence. In Lacanian theoretical psychoanalysis, a step further from Althuisser, it is shown that the role of ideology is not to offer to a subject a point of escape his/her reality, but to offer him/her the very social reality as escape form some as traumatic real core. In late modernist and postmodernist theories ideology is not defined as natural system but as a form of social symbolic and imaginary production of ideas, values and beliefs. Here explained concept of 1 PhD, Professor of Aesthetics, Faculty of Music and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Arts, Belgrade miodragsuvakovic@gmail.com
In recent years, a series of students? projects have been carried out at the Faculty of Architect... more In recent years, a series of students? projects have been carried out at the Faculty of Architecture of Belgrade with aims at protection and investigation of possibilities or presentation of archaeological sites dating from the Roman period, in which Serbia is very rich, and their active inclusion in modern way of life and tourist programs. The project for the revitalization of the Roman military camp Timacum Minus was one of them. It showed that the students? involvement in resolving complex issues of the presentation and revitalization of archaeological remains was fruitful because numerous fresh ideas were obtained in numerous subjects. The focus was on a concept that significant cultural and historic areas with ancient remains were to be presented to both the domestic and foreign public in a modern manner and in interaction with the environment, the natural beauties of the landscape. The projects enable to promote an interactive relation with the historic area as a place where v...
World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of dive... more World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of diversity in cultural tourism. Cultural tourism is a complex of numerous activities that enables not only the affirmation of cultural-historic motives, but also provides important resources for renewal of cultural-historic monuments, tangible and intangible heritage and resources. Today, there is no serious and ambitious country that does not prefer development of tourism in its development strategies as a planetary phenomenon and development sector. This specially refers to cultural tourism, as a competitive segment, based on local authenticity, unique areas, urban entities and ambiance, different historic layers and monuments, local tradition, myths and customs, affirmative mentality of population, geographic and ecological resources, in brief - complex and original identity of its area and its population. Cultural tourism in Montenegro has a modest tradition and only recently through valu...
In 2006, the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee inscribed four Serbian medieval... more In 2006, the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee inscribed four Serbian medieval shrines from Kosovo and Metohija on the World Heritage List, in danger due to difficulties in their preservation and management, as well as the damage they suffered during ethnic conflicts, namely: the Church of Bogorodica Ljeviška in Prizren and the Peć Patriarchate, Dečani and Gračanica monasteries. In accordance with United Nations Resolution 1244, they are currently under the control of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and Metohija. However, in addition to these monuments, the cultural and demographic identity of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is illustrated by over 1,500 established cultural assets (monasteries, churches, cemeteries, etc.) that testify to the centuries-old presence of the Serbian people and Orthodox faith in this area and their material and spiritual culture, as works of the overall European cultural heritage created in the intertwining of the influences of Easte...
Multi-storey business-residential and residential buildings have been increasingly present in Bel... more Multi-storey business-residential and residential buildings have been increasingly present in Belgrade since 1900 and testify to its accelerated modernisation. In the period before the WWI, the basic types of multi-family residential buildings were developed and characteristic forms of building assemblies and spatial organisation of apartments were formed. As builders were educated in Central European centres (Pest, Vienna, Munich, Aachen, Berlin and Zurich), the types of assemblies and apartments were created according to their influence. After the war, in addition to the old generation of architects, the younger generation, educated at the Architectural Department of the Technical Faculty in Belgrade, is also active, which contributes to a greater variety of solutions and the influence of other European centres (Prague and Paris). Through the analysis, examples from the period 1900-14 and 1918-41 are considered and compared to define the basic types of building shapes, assemblies ...
Over the past few decades Belgrade’s urban development has been infringing upon the historic fabr... more Over the past few decades Belgrade’s urban development has been infringing upon the historic fabric of the city, especially upon its peripheral areas created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In order to counteract this process and demonstrate greater commitment to the concept of sustainable development, it is necessary to redefine, through planning policies and through protecting historic areas with relatively modest residential and industrial architecture, the attitude towards the following: what in a historic area is worthy of being preserved; what is meant by the continuity of tradition; the preservation of identity and authenticity of distinctive urban environments and complexes testifying to the life of the city’s lower classes, craftsmen, small manufactory and factory workers, and to their working environments themselves. The wish to sensitize future architects to this distinctive type of built heritage as an important part of the city’s urban and architectural memor...
World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of dive... more World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of diversity in cultural tourism. Cultural tourism is a complex of numerous activities that enables not only the affirmation of cultural-historic motives, but also provides important resources ...
Nikola Samardžić NАTIONALIZATION, CONFISCATION AND RESTITUTION:
Historical, Legal and Political I... more Nikola Samardžić NАTIONALIZATION, CONFISCATION AND RESTITUTION: Historical, Legal and Political Issues Restitution is not just a return to a previous state. We cannot revive the past, and that is not really a point. Restitution is a new opportunity for our future, for everybody with the exception of corrupt pockets of society and state. Memory and attention are priority in the process, in relation to the pure material satisfaction of the damaged or descendants. Broadly socially based capitalism and transparent ownership structure should be the stronghold of our democratic future, the path that respects the wrongdoing victims in the past, assuming the wartime aggression and the Holocaust. I also suppose that descendants of the victims are not responsible for the actions of their ancestors. A very unique burden for Serbia and Yugoslavia is the Donauschwaben destiny. Such controversies may be oversimplified only with a presumption that a new totalitarian order performed the liberation from Nazism and Fascism, with complex and long-term consequences related to the whole of the Eastern Europe, which Yugoslavia was a special and particularly complicated case. Confiscation and nationalization have drastically altered the structure of ownership and general legal framework. Conflict with the previous political system involved a conflict with the wealthier urban and rural social circles. Already during the last months of enduring war a new ruling class has emerged entering into other’s villas, houses, flats, beds and slippers. New ruling class gradually assumed both social function and lifestyle of those defeated. Moreover, eventually was established a tacit consensus of winners and losers, as Yugoslavia was approaching Western influences and opening the borders, faced with the disastrous results of post-war transition and economic policy. From the late sixties intellectuals were increasingly challenging Tito’s regime and value system, but only from the extreme left or nationalist platforms. Already during the seventies was permanently prevented eventual general Yugoslav consensus on democracy, the rule of law and transition to the capitalism. Confiscation and nationalization were significantly impeding modernization process, devastation of villages and ruralisation of the cities. Yugoslav and Serbian society was deprived of the dynamics, ethics, and driving force of capitalism. Gradual destruction of the private property culture, and state promoted, populist self-management kept the economic activity at the margins of profitability and market logic. Traditional urban classes were pauperized and intimidated.Post-war Sovietization and nationalism have transformed Serbia into failed state and futile economy. Despite all its controversies, restitution can be considered as an important reform process with deep and painful historical and ethical background: socialist revolution and Sovietization, the Holocaust and its relapse in nationalization and official hostility to Israel, on the other side of history the fate of the „Donauschwaben”, and, generally, crushing the backbones of modernization and democratization in both urban and rural development. Th at is why we decided to establish this permanent conference as the restitution process deserves the public and scientific attention and open, brave and transparent debate. I suppose that the priorities should be the ethic aspects of restitution, including the moral dilemmas, and all the benefits of our future economic, political and cultural development. Mutual rapprochement between the peoples originating from our former homeland should be implied. I am deeply convinced that the restitution should lead to a new moral consensus that will be referred to all aspects and consequences of the Holocaust. Negation of the idea of restitution, regardless of to whom it concerns, meaning individual nationality or national group, is implicit denial of the Holocaust, as post-war confiscation and nationalization concealed elements of deliberate and organized terror. But we need to discuss the collective reprisals against Donauschwaben. We need to recognize our own, Serbian victims. And we should be even more practical. Th ere is no democracy without the rule of law. And there is no capitalism without legally protected private property. There is no capitalism outside democratic world. Perhaps democracy is the best of all poor political systems. Maybe capitalism is the price we pay to human nature, driven predominantly by market constraints, and just exceptionally by entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.
The paper is about the First National Hygiene Exposition in Belgrade in 1933. It was one of the m... more The paper is about the First National Hygiene Exposition in Belgrade in 1933. It was one of the most significant events and an important part of the cultural policy in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia at that time. It was also the last one in a series of great events under the high patronage of King Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic. In order to make research in the novelties the exposition introduced, the thus far unpublished archival material has been studied along with the situation drawings of the complex and the restaurant, photo documentation and the exposition presentation in the newspapers of the time, as well as the published material. The aim of the paper is to emphasize the significance of the exposition, its dominant health and education concept with regard to social improvements for the benefit of the general public, all in the context of the period and under conditions it was organized. The paper also aims at presenting a comprehensive view of the exposition impact on the history o...
| Ideology is in the political and cultural sense a relatively connected and determined set of id... more | Ideology is in the political and cultural sense a relatively connected and determined set of ideas, symbolic representations, values, beliefs and forms of thoughts, behaviours, expressions, representations and actings which are common to members of a social group, members of political parties, state institutions or social classes. In literature the notion of ideology is introduced in several, often equally valued and variant, but contrary ways: (1) ideology is a set of positive and pragmatic beliefs, values, forms of behaviours, and actings shared by a group of theoreticians or practicians, i.e., members of a culture or specific differentiated formations in the frames of a culture, (2) ideology is a set of false representations, false beliefs and effects of illusions shared by members of a social strata, class, nation, political party, specific culture or world of art, which project possible, actual and immediate world of existence, (3) ideology is phantasmatic construction which serves as support to our reality, in other words, it is an illusion which structures effective social relations and masks traumatic social divisions or confrontations which could not be symbolized, therefore function of ideology is to supply us with bearable social reality, (5) by ideology it is referred to meanings, sense and values of structure power which particular social formation or society practice as a whole or to which it tends, etc. Louis Althusser defined ideology as representation of imaginary relations of individual to his or her real conditions of existence. In Lacanian theoretical psychoanalysis, a step further from Althuisser, it is shown that the role of ideology is not to offer to a subject a point of escape his/her reality, but to offer him/her the very social reality as escape form some as traumatic real core. In late modernist and postmodernist theories ideology is not defined as natural system but as a form of social symbolic and imaginary production of ideas, values and beliefs. Here explained concept of 1 PhD, Professor of Aesthetics, Faculty of Music and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Arts, Belgrade miodragsuvakovic@gmail.com
In recent years, a series of students? projects have been carried out at the Faculty of Architect... more In recent years, a series of students? projects have been carried out at the Faculty of Architecture of Belgrade with aims at protection and investigation of possibilities or presentation of archaeological sites dating from the Roman period, in which Serbia is very rich, and their active inclusion in modern way of life and tourist programs. The project for the revitalization of the Roman military camp Timacum Minus was one of them. It showed that the students? involvement in resolving complex issues of the presentation and revitalization of archaeological remains was fruitful because numerous fresh ideas were obtained in numerous subjects. The focus was on a concept that significant cultural and historic areas with ancient remains were to be presented to both the domestic and foreign public in a modern manner and in interaction with the environment, the natural beauties of the landscape. The projects enable to promote an interactive relation with the historic area as a place where v...
World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of dive... more World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of diversity in cultural tourism. Cultural tourism is a complex of numerous activities that enables not only the affirmation of cultural-historic motives, but also provides important resources for renewal of cultural-historic monuments, tangible and intangible heritage and resources. Today, there is no serious and ambitious country that does not prefer development of tourism in its development strategies as a planetary phenomenon and development sector. This specially refers to cultural tourism, as a competitive segment, based on local authenticity, unique areas, urban entities and ambiance, different historic layers and monuments, local tradition, myths and customs, affirmative mentality of population, geographic and ecological resources, in brief - complex and original identity of its area and its population. Cultural tourism in Montenegro has a modest tradition and only recently through valu...
In 2006, the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee inscribed four Serbian medieval... more In 2006, the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee inscribed four Serbian medieval shrines from Kosovo and Metohija on the World Heritage List, in danger due to difficulties in their preservation and management, as well as the damage they suffered during ethnic conflicts, namely: the Church of Bogorodica Ljeviška in Prizren and the Peć Patriarchate, Dečani and Gračanica monasteries. In accordance with United Nations Resolution 1244, they are currently under the control of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and Metohija. However, in addition to these monuments, the cultural and demographic identity of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is illustrated by over 1,500 established cultural assets (monasteries, churches, cemeteries, etc.) that testify to the centuries-old presence of the Serbian people and Orthodox faith in this area and their material and spiritual culture, as works of the overall European cultural heritage created in the intertwining of the influences of Easte...
Multi-storey business-residential and residential buildings have been increasingly present in Bel... more Multi-storey business-residential and residential buildings have been increasingly present in Belgrade since 1900 and testify to its accelerated modernisation. In the period before the WWI, the basic types of multi-family residential buildings were developed and characteristic forms of building assemblies and spatial organisation of apartments were formed. As builders were educated in Central European centres (Pest, Vienna, Munich, Aachen, Berlin and Zurich), the types of assemblies and apartments were created according to their influence. After the war, in addition to the old generation of architects, the younger generation, educated at the Architectural Department of the Technical Faculty in Belgrade, is also active, which contributes to a greater variety of solutions and the influence of other European centres (Prague and Paris). Through the analysis, examples from the period 1900-14 and 1918-41 are considered and compared to define the basic types of building shapes, assemblies ...
Over the past few decades Belgrade’s urban development has been infringing upon the historic fabr... more Over the past few decades Belgrade’s urban development has been infringing upon the historic fabric of the city, especially upon its peripheral areas created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In order to counteract this process and demonstrate greater commitment to the concept of sustainable development, it is necessary to redefine, through planning policies and through protecting historic areas with relatively modest residential and industrial architecture, the attitude towards the following: what in a historic area is worthy of being preserved; what is meant by the continuity of tradition; the preservation of identity and authenticity of distinctive urban environments and complexes testifying to the life of the city’s lower classes, craftsmen, small manufactory and factory workers, and to their working environments themselves. The wish to sensitize future architects to this distinctive type of built heritage as an important part of the city’s urban and architectural memor...
World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of dive... more World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of diversity in cultural tourism. Cultural tourism is a complex of numerous activities that enables not only the affirmation of cultural-historic motives, but also provides important resources ...
Nikola Samardžić NАTIONALIZATION, CONFISCATION AND RESTITUTION:
Historical, Legal and Political I... more Nikola Samardžić NАTIONALIZATION, CONFISCATION AND RESTITUTION: Historical, Legal and Political Issues Restitution is not just a return to a previous state. We cannot revive the past, and that is not really a point. Restitution is a new opportunity for our future, for everybody with the exception of corrupt pockets of society and state. Memory and attention are priority in the process, in relation to the pure material satisfaction of the damaged or descendants. Broadly socially based capitalism and transparent ownership structure should be the stronghold of our democratic future, the path that respects the wrongdoing victims in the past, assuming the wartime aggression and the Holocaust. I also suppose that descendants of the victims are not responsible for the actions of their ancestors. A very unique burden for Serbia and Yugoslavia is the Donauschwaben destiny. Such controversies may be oversimplified only with a presumption that a new totalitarian order performed the liberation from Nazism and Fascism, with complex and long-term consequences related to the whole of the Eastern Europe, which Yugoslavia was a special and particularly complicated case. Confiscation and nationalization have drastically altered the structure of ownership and general legal framework. Conflict with the previous political system involved a conflict with the wealthier urban and rural social circles. Already during the last months of enduring war a new ruling class has emerged entering into other’s villas, houses, flats, beds and slippers. New ruling class gradually assumed both social function and lifestyle of those defeated. Moreover, eventually was established a tacit consensus of winners and losers, as Yugoslavia was approaching Western influences and opening the borders, faced with the disastrous results of post-war transition and economic policy. From the late sixties intellectuals were increasingly challenging Tito’s regime and value system, but only from the extreme left or nationalist platforms. Already during the seventies was permanently prevented eventual general Yugoslav consensus on democracy, the rule of law and transition to the capitalism. Confiscation and nationalization were significantly impeding modernization process, devastation of villages and ruralisation of the cities. Yugoslav and Serbian society was deprived of the dynamics, ethics, and driving force of capitalism. Gradual destruction of the private property culture, and state promoted, populist self-management kept the economic activity at the margins of profitability and market logic. Traditional urban classes were pauperized and intimidated.Post-war Sovietization and nationalism have transformed Serbia into failed state and futile economy. Despite all its controversies, restitution can be considered as an important reform process with deep and painful historical and ethical background: socialist revolution and Sovietization, the Holocaust and its relapse in nationalization and official hostility to Israel, on the other side of history the fate of the „Donauschwaben”, and, generally, crushing the backbones of modernization and democratization in both urban and rural development. Th at is why we decided to establish this permanent conference as the restitution process deserves the public and scientific attention and open, brave and transparent debate. I suppose that the priorities should be the ethic aspects of restitution, including the moral dilemmas, and all the benefits of our future economic, political and cultural development. Mutual rapprochement between the peoples originating from our former homeland should be implied. I am deeply convinced that the restitution should lead to a new moral consensus that will be referred to all aspects and consequences of the Holocaust. Negation of the idea of restitution, regardless of to whom it concerns, meaning individual nationality or national group, is implicit denial of the Holocaust, as post-war confiscation and nationalization concealed elements of deliberate and organized terror. But we need to discuss the collective reprisals against Donauschwaben. We need to recognize our own, Serbian victims. And we should be even more practical. Th ere is no democracy without the rule of law. And there is no capitalism without legally protected private property. There is no capitalism outside democratic world. Perhaps democracy is the best of all poor political systems. Maybe capitalism is the price we pay to human nature, driven predominantly by market constraints, and just exceptionally by entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.
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Papers by Mirjana Roter Blagojevic
Historical, Legal and Political Issues Restitution is not just a return to a previous state. We cannot revive the past, and that is not really a point. Restitution is a new opportunity for our future, for everybody with the exception of corrupt pockets of society and state. Memory and attention are priority in the process, in relation to the pure material satisfaction of the damaged or descendants. Broadly socially based capitalism and transparent ownership structure should be the stronghold of our democratic future, the path that respects the wrongdoing victims in the past, assuming the wartime aggression and the Holocaust. I also suppose that descendants of the victims are not responsible for the actions of their ancestors. A very unique burden for Serbia and Yugoslavia is the Donauschwaben destiny. Such controversies may be oversimplified only with a presumption that a new totalitarian order performed the liberation from Nazism and Fascism,
with complex and long-term consequences related to the whole of the
Eastern Europe, which Yugoslavia was a special and particularly complicated case. Confiscation and nationalization have drastically altered the structure of ownership and general legal framework. Conflict with the previous political system involved a conflict with the wealthier urban and rural social circles. Already during the last months of enduring war a new ruling class has emerged entering into other’s villas, houses, flats, beds and slippers. New ruling class gradually assumed both social function and lifestyle of those defeated. Moreover, eventually was established a tacit consensus of winners and losers, as Yugoslavia was approaching Western influences and opening the borders, faced with the disastrous results of post-war transition and economic policy. From the late sixties intellectuals were increasingly challenging Tito’s regime
and value system, but only from the extreme left or nationalist platforms. Already during the seventies was permanently prevented eventual general Yugoslav consensus on democracy, the rule of law and transition to the capitalism. Confiscation and nationalization were significantly impeding modernization process, devastation of villages and ruralisation of the cities. Yugoslav and Serbian society was deprived of the dynamics, ethics, and driving force of capitalism. Gradual destruction of the private property culture, and state promoted, populist self-management kept the economic activity at the margins of profitability and market logic. Traditional urban classes were pauperized and intimidated.Post-war Sovietization and nationalism have transformed Serbia into failed state and futile economy. Despite all its controversies, restitution can be considered as an important reform process with deep and painful historical and ethical background: socialist revolution and Sovietization, the Holocaust and its relapse in nationalization and official hostility to Israel, on the other side of history the fate of the „Donauschwaben”, and, generally, crushing the backbones of modernization and democratization in both urban and rural development. Th at is why we decided to establish this permanent conference as the restitution process deserves the public and scientific attention and open, brave and transparent debate. I suppose that the priorities should be the ethic aspects of restitution, including the moral dilemmas, and all the benefits of our future economic, political and cultural development. Mutual rapprochement between the peoples originating from our former homeland should be implied. I am deeply convinced that the restitution should lead to a new moral consensus
that will be referred to all aspects and consequences of the Holocaust.
Negation of the idea of restitution, regardless of to whom it concerns, meaning individual nationality or national group, is implicit denial of the Holocaust, as post-war confiscation and nationalization concealed elements of deliberate and organized terror. But we need to discuss the collective reprisals against Donauschwaben. We need to recognize our own, Serbian victims. And we should be even more practical. Th ere is no democracy without the rule of law. And there is no capitalism without legally protected private property. There is no capitalism outside democratic world. Perhaps democracy is the best of all poor political systems. Maybe capitalism is the price we pay to human nature, driven predominantly by market constraints, and just exceptionally by entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.
Historical, Legal and Political Issues Restitution is not just a return to a previous state. We cannot revive the past, and that is not really a point. Restitution is a new opportunity for our future, for everybody with the exception of corrupt pockets of society and state. Memory and attention are priority in the process, in relation to the pure material satisfaction of the damaged or descendants. Broadly socially based capitalism and transparent ownership structure should be the stronghold of our democratic future, the path that respects the wrongdoing victims in the past, assuming the wartime aggression and the Holocaust. I also suppose that descendants of the victims are not responsible for the actions of their ancestors. A very unique burden for Serbia and Yugoslavia is the Donauschwaben destiny. Such controversies may be oversimplified only with a presumption that a new totalitarian order performed the liberation from Nazism and Fascism,
with complex and long-term consequences related to the whole of the
Eastern Europe, which Yugoslavia was a special and particularly complicated case. Confiscation and nationalization have drastically altered the structure of ownership and general legal framework. Conflict with the previous political system involved a conflict with the wealthier urban and rural social circles. Already during the last months of enduring war a new ruling class has emerged entering into other’s villas, houses, flats, beds and slippers. New ruling class gradually assumed both social function and lifestyle of those defeated. Moreover, eventually was established a tacit consensus of winners and losers, as Yugoslavia was approaching Western influences and opening the borders, faced with the disastrous results of post-war transition and economic policy. From the late sixties intellectuals were increasingly challenging Tito’s regime
and value system, but only from the extreme left or nationalist platforms. Already during the seventies was permanently prevented eventual general Yugoslav consensus on democracy, the rule of law and transition to the capitalism. Confiscation and nationalization were significantly impeding modernization process, devastation of villages and ruralisation of the cities. Yugoslav and Serbian society was deprived of the dynamics, ethics, and driving force of capitalism. Gradual destruction of the private property culture, and state promoted, populist self-management kept the economic activity at the margins of profitability and market logic. Traditional urban classes were pauperized and intimidated.Post-war Sovietization and nationalism have transformed Serbia into failed state and futile economy. Despite all its controversies, restitution can be considered as an important reform process with deep and painful historical and ethical background: socialist revolution and Sovietization, the Holocaust and its relapse in nationalization and official hostility to Israel, on the other side of history the fate of the „Donauschwaben”, and, generally, crushing the backbones of modernization and democratization in both urban and rural development. Th at is why we decided to establish this permanent conference as the restitution process deserves the public and scientific attention and open, brave and transparent debate. I suppose that the priorities should be the ethic aspects of restitution, including the moral dilemmas, and all the benefits of our future economic, political and cultural development. Mutual rapprochement between the peoples originating from our former homeland should be implied. I am deeply convinced that the restitution should lead to a new moral consensus
that will be referred to all aspects and consequences of the Holocaust.
Negation of the idea of restitution, regardless of to whom it concerns, meaning individual nationality or national group, is implicit denial of the Holocaust, as post-war confiscation and nationalization concealed elements of deliberate and organized terror. But we need to discuss the collective reprisals against Donauschwaben. We need to recognize our own, Serbian victims. And we should be even more practical. Th ere is no democracy without the rule of law. And there is no capitalism without legally protected private property. There is no capitalism outside democratic world. Perhaps democracy is the best of all poor political systems. Maybe capitalism is the price we pay to human nature, driven predominantly by market constraints, and just exceptionally by entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.