Original scientific paper
STUDENT PROTEST AT THE ZAGREB FACULTY OF ARTS IN 1968
Berislav Jandrić
; Croatian Institute of History, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Discontent and protest of students in 1968 was motivated by the unsuccessful social and economical reform of the Yugoslav society during the 1960-ies and also by the declining standard of living which affected the population and especially students. Students tried to influence the institutions of the Yugoslav socialist self-management system and to initiate positive if minimal reforms, but their attempts failed. The key role in silencing the student opposition was played by the state controlled press. State newspapers had already played similar role after the publication of the Declaration on the name and position of the Croatian language. Newspapers didn’t give real information about the student movement and student and youth press was repressed or completely banned by the authorities.
Professors and students of the Zagreb Faculty of arts who took part in the protests were later punished by being expelled from the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. The same punishment had been applied to the supporters of the Declaration on the Croatian language. Historical analysis shows that the 1968 student protests in Zagreb and Belgrade had different characteristics, views and intensity which is the result of deeper differences which existed within the Yugoslav society.
Nevertheless, the problem of student protests in Yugoslavia, especially the question of its roots and organizational structure, still leaves many unanswered questions. The opinions of the historians on the spontaneity of these protests also differ.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
161935
URI
Publication date:
26.4.2002.
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