The last Yugoslav generation: The rethinking of youth politics and cultures in late socialism [Paperback]

This promising addition to the growing literature on the history of late socialism charts the development of youth culture and politics in socialist Yugoslavia, focusing on the 1980s. Rather than examining the 1980s as a mere prelude to the violent collapse of the country in the 1990s, the book recovers the multiplicity of political visions and cultural developments that evolved at the time and that have been largely forgotten in subsequent discussion. The youth of this generation, the author convincingly argues, sought to rearticulate the Yugoslav socialist framework in order to reinvigorate it and 'democratise' it, rather than destroy it altogether.GBThe last Yugoslav Generation charts the development of youth culture and politics in socialist Yugoslavia, focusing on the 1980sLjubica Spaskovska is Lecturer in European History at the University of Exeter

The last decade has seen a challenge unfolding within the institutional youth sphere to established norms and practices in late-Yugoslav politics, media and culture. Whilst many studies have focused on the powerful tensions that led to Yugoslavia's dismemberment, this book reminds us of the existence of countervailing forces, embodied most powerfully in the political and cultural work of a young Yugoslav generation.

Using a combination of oral history interviews, archival documents and print media sources in several languages of the former Yugoslavia, this book examines the challenge to the socialism of the older generation. It demonstrates a deep commitment to the reforming of the federation, based both on leftist and liberal principles. Following the activities of the 'League of Socialist Youth of Yugoslavia' on multiple fronts, the book shows how an organisation that was an integral part of the country's political system provided a venue for critiquing and challenging the norms of an older generation and reinventing socialism. This ambitious study provides unique insight into this generation's sense oflãÇ