The Strength of Socialism is in Diversity!”: Mikhail Gorbachev’s Visit to Yugoslavia (March 14 – 18, 1988)

Authors

  • Ivica Miškulin Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Domagoj Kukulj Croatian State Archives, Zagreb, Croatia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22586/rch.v20i1.33992

Keywords:

Mikhail Gorbachev; Soviet Union; Yugoslavia; communism; international relations

Abstract

This article describes the visit of Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in March 1988. Gorbachev spent five days in Yugoslavia, during which he visited three of its socialist republics. The introductory chapters provide an overview of the history of Soviet-Yugoslav relations, with a special focus on the period immediately preceding the visit, as well as a brief description of Gorbachev’s reforms and the international political situation of that period. The historical context of the visit and its various aspects and representations in the Soviet and Yugoslav press are analysed in the following chapters, with a detailed itinerary also being included. Special attention is given to various speeches by both the Soviet and Yugoslav functionaries, especially Gorbachev’s speech in the Assembly of the SFRY as well as the Soviet-Yugoslav Declaration. Finally, a brief overview of the reactions to the visit and its consequences is presented.

 

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Published

2024-12-24

How to Cite

Miškulin, I., & Kukulj, D. (2024). The Strength of Socialism is in Diversity!”: Mikhail Gorbachev’s Visit to Yugoslavia (March 14 – 18, 1988). Review of Croatian History, 20(1), 83–113. https://doi.org/10.22586/rch.v20i1.33992