JOVAN RASKOVIC THE SILENCED VOICE OF AGREEMENT AND REASON IN SERBO-CROATIAN RELATIONS

Abstract

Jovan Raskovic was a significant scientific and political figure in the years preceding the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). He is best remembered for his advocacy for the rights of Serbs in Croatia and as a founder of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS). Raskovic attempted to secure Serbian (minority) rights in democratic and institutional manner, emphasizing moderation and dialogue as the primary means of his political action. This paper explores the political and intellectual legacy of Jovan Raskovic, a prominent psychiatrist, academic, and political leader whose role during the dissolution of the SFRY remains both significant and often contested. Focusing on his efforts to prevent wider conflict between Serbs and Croats during the turbulent period of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the paper situates Raskovic within the broader context of post-communist transition, rising nationalism, and ethnic polarization in the former Yugoslavia. Drawing on a range of historical, political, and other sources, the paper critically assesses claims that Raskovic contributed to the escalation of ethnic conflict. It argues instead that his political marginalization, brought about by hostile Croatian nationalism and the rise of more radical forces within the Serbian political sphere, undermined his vision and his efforts to secure peaceful coexistence. Through an analysis of his writings, public speeches, and available articles, this paper contends that Raskovic represents a suppressed voice of restraint whose failure to influence the course of events marks a missed opportunity for a more peaceful resolution to the Serb-Croat conflict. Ultimately, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of Raskovic as both a product of his time and a potential alternative to the path that led to war.