Published are cathartic echoes of the 20th century Croatian dissident drama, which reveal, through documented evidence, why Western democracies betrayed Croatian intellectuals both from the homeland and in the diaspora.
The bilingual collection of papers in Croatian and English entitled Croatian Dissidents and the Dissonance of the West by a group of authors and editor Julienne Bušić, which for the first time systematically discusses how the United States and Western Europe viewed the Croatian struggle for national equality during socialist Yugoslavia, was presented in Zagreb on May 27 in Školska knjiga’s Velika dvorana venue. Chairman of the Board of Školska knjiga, Ante Žužul, Ph.D., Dražen Budiša, editors and authors Julienne Bušić and Luka Knez, as well as Executive Editor Deniver Vukelić, Ph.D. spoke about this important collection, published as part of Školska knjiga’s Okomica Series.
The collection of papers Croatian Dissidents and the Dissonance of the West (Krik hrvatskih disidenata i disonanca Zapada) is intended not only for historians and political scientists, but also for anyone interested in understanding why the Croatian struggle for national independence and respect for human rights did not received greater support from Western democracies. This important topic is dealt with in the collection of papers with a scientific, documentary and essayistic approach.
“This book is an invaluable document that demonstrates the enormous strength of extremely brave people who spoke out loudly during the communist dictatorship and announced the coming of the much-desired freedom. Their cry expressed not only a desire but also a vision of freedom, a democratic society and an independent Croatia. However, the world fell deaf to the words of Franjo Tuđman, Vlado Gotovac, Marko Veselica, Ante Bruno Bušić, Dražen Budiša, Šegedin, Čičak and the other intellectual elite of Our Beautiful Homeland. At a time when murderers such as Milovan Djilas were proclaimed world dissidents, the voice of Croatian intellectuals remained unnoticed in the centers of world power. Despite such unfavorable circumstances for the dreams of Croatian patriots and dissidents, this book proves that a nation that has self-awareness, energy, national virtue and visionaries can build its own state. We must thank Julienne Bušić for digging through archives the world-over and providing us with valuable insight into the unspoken facts about why the world did not recognize the cry of Croatian dissidents,” said Chairman of the Board of Školska knjiga, Ante Žužul, Ph.D.
Dražen Budiša, one of the most prominent leaders of the Croatian student movement in 1970 and 1971 during the Croatian Spring spoke briefly about the repression of the Yugoslav communist regime based on his own experience. In the collection of papers, Budiša’s final words from his Communist trial have been published, which sentenced him as a student leader to a prison sentence and whose transcript is being published for the first time in the book Croatian Dissidents and the Dissonance of the West.
This bilingual collection of papers explores the activities of Croatian intellectuals and dissidents who, in accordance with democratic principles, demanded respect for human rights and the right of peoples to self-determination, said one of the editors and authors of the book Luka Knez.
“Their efforts were met not only with the brutal repression of the communist regime, but also with a misunderstanding on the part of the states of Western democracies. The West, which supported dissidents in almost all communist states, chose pragmatic silence in the case of Croats in order to preserve relations with Yugoslavia. Therefore, it is not surprising that almost all politically motivated murders of Croatian emigrants in the West remained unprocessed and silent, as well as that the pursuit of Croatian independence was perceived as a threat and not as a legitimate political idea,” highlighted Luka Knez.
According to editor Julienne Bušić, the book Croatian Dissidents and the Dissonance of the West can be described as a revisionist work because it shatters the false story of US support for the protection of human rights. However, the value of revisionism depends on its intention and method. If it is based on uncompromising research, it is a tool for truth. If it is based on ideology or there is a lack of evidence, like some conspiracy theories, it is a burden, added Julienne Bušić.
“It takes courage to study what I would call ‘unpleasant’ topics because the research often reveals unpleasant truths, and it is human nature to want to preserve long-standing opinions and beliefs. Change leads to doubts about one’s own judgment, intelligence and competencies, so it is often undesirable. It is an attack on the ego. But how can we oppose change if it is based on truth, on easily demonstrable claims? This is a dilemma we often face today: how to help people accept the truth. Unfortunately, many people know the truth, but for ideological or psychological reasons refuse to accept it. However, others sincerely want to expand their knowledge, and these are the people I had in mind when I started my research for the book Croatian Dissidents and the Dissonance of the West”.
“As a born America, I was embarrassed to discover in American archives and elsewhere the harmful and intentional actions taken by the United States against Croatian dissidents, contrary to all its principles. It was necessary to correct the false story in the name of historical accuracy! Because we must not forget that dissidence is patriotic, especially when its goal is to reveal the truth!”, emphasized the editor of the book and this year’s winner of the Ljubica Štefan Award for her contribution to the research of Croatian political history. Through her literary work and public engagement, she constantly emphasized the importance of Croatia’s national interests by analyzing the position of Croats and their struggles on the global political scene, dedicating her entire engagement to preserving and nurturing the collective memory of the Croatian people, according to the explanation for the award.
The collection of dissident sources has also been published in English so that foreign researchers could better understand the complexity of the situation in Croatia in the second half of the 20th century on the basis of the original material and make it clear that Western politics and the media did not equally support all dissidents under communist regimes in their struggle for freedom of conscience and human rights.
Text: Vesna Kukavica/ŠK Photo: Snježana Radoš
