THE BOOK

The book "VlasTITO iskustvo / Past Present" published in Serbian/English is a collection of philosophical, sociological and historical essays and interviews. Essay authors and the people Radonja Leposavić interviewed live in the countries formed after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia.

The authors of the essays are Mileta Prodanović and Ivan Čolović from Belgrade, Shkelzen Maliqi from Priština, Dejan Kršić from Zagreb, Ugo Vlaisavljević from Sarajevo and Rastko Močnik from Ljubljana.

Extracts from the interviews conducted from October 2001 to April 2002 have also been included in the book. The interviewees were: marketing agent Aleksandar Kolthaj (Buffoonery kills every totalitarianism), journalist Radoš Glišić (I thought it could not be worse - it could only get better), art director of the last Youth Day celebrations Spasoje Grdinić (I saw you carrying the baton - I wonder why you are against it now), film director Veljko Bulajić (Tears shed for Tito were tears shed for the standard of living), members of the IRWIN art group (Poster Scandal), publisher Žarko Čigoja (I'm not afraid of generals, I find colonels more frightening), retired member of the staff working in the palaces (No pressure was exerted, but there were suggestions) and performer Tomislav Gotovac (Say what you like: it's all true!)

"It's necessary to analyse his era, not because of the man himself, the historical personality of Josip Broz, nor because of the heroic role played by our nations and nationalities in those historically challenging times, but precisely because of us here and now, and our future." Dejan Kršić Work in Progress.

"Many years after Tito's death, those who had been sycophants over many long years congratulated themselves of having long since "bared their teeth" to the ruler who was rapidly losing his position as "the greatest son of our nations and nationalities". The purpose of all these articles, of course, was to curry favour with the new dictator. And, naturally, very little in that subsequent plucking-up of courage was true." Mileta Prodanović Bearing teeth / baring teeth.

"Already in the time of true socialism Josip Broz found a way to use artistic means to support post-revolutionary socialist politics. On the fringe of general representation with the political practice of a one-party system, he intervened with an outdated, but all the more popular artistic practice producing, with pop-romantic mastery, the work of art known as TITO." Rastko Močnik Pop-Romantic Mastery

"Today I wonder how I managed not to become a believer. Perhaps I was lucky enough never to be chosen to take part in the events organized in the leader's honour." Shkelzen Maliqi The logical death of Marshal Tito

"Tito's baton or the Youth Baton was carried for the last time in 1987, the year Slobodan Milošević came to power in Serbia. Instead of the baton, there would soon appear on our roads different symbols of political power and unity - the relics of saints and poets." Ivan Čolović On models and batons

"It is true that extensive interpretations of totalitarianism exclude Titoism from their main theses, but seem to leave a place for it in the margins, in an ambiguous manner: from this, one can see that the phenomenon cannot be completely excluded." Ugo Vlaisavljević Tito's greatest gift: the vacant seat of power

"I think these questions must be asked. These are not questions about the personality of one man - it is not the undermining of Tito's personality and deeds as was done under Slobodan Milošević. This is not a story about "countless illegitimate children" or "about women", but an attempt to emerge from traumatic times. One of the ways this is done is by learning about them." Andrej Mitrović Tito: Many years, many faces

Publisher: Samizdat B92
Editor: Radonja Leposavić
Photo research and editing: Marina Dokmanović
Serbian proofreading: Samizdat B92
Translation: Vladimir Brašanac, Mirjana Srećković
English editing: Stephen Agnew
Design and layout: Jeroen de Vries
Photograph technician: Predrag Janeš
Pre-press: Colorgrafx
Printing: NBS - The Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins, Belgrade, 2004

The publication of this book was supported by the Swiss Embassy in Belgrade, the National Bank of Serbia and the Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins, the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, the Belgrade City Secretariat for Culture, and the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia.

Collaborators on the project / support: Goranka Matić, Milomir Kovačević, Imre Sabo, Moma Cvijović, Predrag Milosavljević, photograph archive of the Belgrade daily Politika, Zorica Kokot, Zorica Vukosavljević, the National Museum in Belgrade.
The book can be ordered at:
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