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[This letter is a reply to SeeingRed's request for opinions on Yugoslav opposition movements. Dragan maintains a Serbian-language web-site at < http://members.tripod.com/crveni/index.html>. We'll be running other's opinions as they become available. --editor]
Dragan writes:
Students Union (SU) was fighting Milosevic's regime two
years ago, after faked elections, but they sided themselves with
pro-bourgeois parties (SPO -Serbian Renovation Movement; and DS - Democratic
Party). Later, most of the leaders of SU got pretty high positions in SPO's
and DS's hierarchy.
Nezavisnost is [workers'] union that also fought against regime, but they had only limited success. I don't think that they have very progressive demands and program. As far as I know, they are also connected with reactionary pro-western parties.
As far as future is concerned, I think that movement towards capitalism is inevitable. Unfortunately, both Milosevic's regime and pro-western opposition were preparing workers for that in last few years, so I don't think that they will resist much. They managed to brainwash workers with 'free market and democracy' rhetoric in last few years. State property is almost completely robbed and destroyed, and both sides are announcing 'privatisation' which should complete the transformation.
Right now, we can expect clashes between Milosevic and opposition, but nothing progressive can come out of them. It doesn't matter who wins because the loser is already known - the working class. My guess is that workers won't realize their real position until they feel effects of privatisation and 'democratization' on their own skin. Only then they will be open again for ideas of Marxism and socialism.
Comradely,
Dragan
Belgrade, 10 July 1999