Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/mjrl3u7q39
The Croatian Spring in Gospić
Ivica Mataija
orcid.org/0000-0002-5194-949X
; The State Archives in Gospić, Gospić, Croatia
Sanja Vrcić-Mataija
orcid.org/0000-0002-5194-949X
; University of Zadar, Department of Teacher Education Studies in Gospić, Gospić, Croatia
Abstract
Based on available archival material, newspaper articles and reference literature, the paper investigates and analyses the social and political situation in Gospić during the Croatian Spring. After the Second World War, there were unresolved national issues, as well as economic, communal and infrastructural stagnation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Also, the domination of the imposed supranational identity and symbols and the consequent restraint and marginalisation of the fundamental values of Croatian tradition, cultural and linguistic status caused an ever-increasing tension in the social and political life of Gospić. Under careful scrutiny came activities of local Communist League organisations who, being the creators of entire social life, faced significant difficulties. Also, their decisions, based on the doctrine of brotherhood and unity and revolutionary communist ideology on the political principle of democratic centralism, drastically affected many institutions and individuals who occupied an essential place in the then social life of Gospić. The period of the Croatian Spring in Gospić was marked by constant and intense turmoil on several levels. Within the League of Communists themselves, the reformist currents of politics of the Central Committee of the SKH (LCC) and Savka Dabčević Kučar, and the conservative, unionist ones, relying on the policy of the SKJ ( LCY) and Josip Broz Tito, came into conflict with each other. Reformist currents also affected other socio-political organisations of that time, especially the most massive SSRN. This institution was a very lively interpreter and implementer of the then important social issues such as changing the constitution, conducting a census and, after the Declaration, again very current, language issues. Particular focus was placed on the Gospić Branch of Matica Hrvatska and several of its prominent members. In the process of discovering the main initiators of nationalism and chauvinism, they were denounced as its main originators and bearers. After Karađorđevo Meeting, according to a clearly established pattern methodologically developed by the top of the SKJ (LCY) and SKH LCC), the process of dealing with nationalism began, which in various ways included numerous individuals and institutions, especially the Matica Hrvatska branch in Gospić, and the Medak Board of Education, which were banned. Following the instructions of their party headquarters, the Gospić communists, emphasising their position of power, reacted to domestic social and political circumstances by taking repressive measures. They were aimed at undesirable contents and influential personalities of prominent national identity who raised the level of the social and cultural life of Lika.
Keywords
Croatian Spring; League of Communists; Gospić; Matica Hrvatska; Analysis; language issues
Hrčak ID:
248506
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2020.
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