Yugoslavia

The flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918-1940) and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1947-)

### Official name

Kingdom of Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes (1918-1940)Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1947-)

### Government

Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy (1918-1940)Federal one-party parliamentary republic (1947-)

### Established

1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Yugoslavia)31 January 1949 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)

### Anthem

Hej, Slaveni ("Hey Slavs")

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is a country in Southeast Europe. It borders North Italy to the west, Austria and Hungary to the north, and Serbia to the south and east.

Yugoslavia is officially a federal state made up by constituent republics within it that represent various South Slavic nationalities. These include Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republic of Srpska. Since the end of the Second World War, the state is run by a single party led by Josip Broz Tito.

Yugoslavia considers itself a neutral state in international relations, mostly focusing on consolidating its internal ethnic strife. Though not formally aligned with any geopolitical power bloc, the country is not a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

## History

### Creation of Yugoslavia

#### Origins of Yugoslavism

The idea of a pan-South-Slavic cultural and political movement started in the early-19th century by young Croatian intellectuals. The movement aimed to create a separate Croatian kingdom within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with under it the South Slavs of the empire.

The Croatian intellectuals referred to this potential kingdom as *Illyria,* harkening to the theory that South Slavs were descended from ancient Illyrians. Additionally, the name Illyria was used to promote greater unity among South Slavs, forgoing the usage and leadership of a single South Slavic nation to lead the movement as a whole.

The movement gained traction quickly in Croatia during the rise of liberalism and nationalism in the mid-19th century and the 1848 revolutions. Pro-Illyrian political factions also rose up in Slovenian, Bosnian, and Serbian circles, though Serbs, having attained a de facto independent nation since the Serbian Revolution of 1804, were less conducive to Croatian cooperation and risking war with their neighbours. The greatest extent of Serbian sympathies to Illyrianism was their desire for unification with Montenegro, still under Austrian rule.

Illyrianism ultimately stayed as an underground political movement centred around Zagreb, with few believing in the possibility of genuine, independent nationhood.

#### Yugoslav Committee

Croatian intellectuals saw the outbreak of the First World War as an opportunity to vie for South Slavic independence and unification. Many prominent Croatian political figures fled to London during the war, including Ante Trumbić, who formed the Yugoslav Committee. The committee raised funds from South Slavic diaspora and advocated for South Slavic independence in the case of an Entente victory after the war.

While Trumbić successfully lobbied the British government to support the creation of a Yugoslav state after the war, he failed in negotiating with Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić for his support of including Serbia in the proposed South Slavic state. Despite this, the Yugoslav Committee, by the end of WWI, was able to negotiate the creation of Yugoslavia that included Croatia (including Istria), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia (including Littoral).

Nearing the end of WWI and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the State of Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes rose up against Austrian forces in the Balkans, declaring itself a new state in 29 October, 1918. Led by Anton Korošec, the new state worked closely with the Entente and with the Yugoslav Committee.

#### Paris Peace Conference

During the Paris Peace Conference in Versailles, Ante Trumbić represented the State of Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes. Though Trumbić's demands for Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, as well as Istria and Littoral were successful during the conference, the new state lost to the Serbian delegation's bid for Montenegro. Though London aided the Yugoslav goal for independence, they were unwilling to damage relations with the Kigndom of Serbia, which they realized became an important strategic partner in the Balkans.

Ultimately, the Yugoslav movement was proclaimed a success, and thus officially created the Kingdom of Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes (colloquially called the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) with diplomatic recognition from most world nations, including the Kingdom of Serbia.