yugoslavias implosion

ethnic cleansing, one must bear in mind the unique legacy of Serbian
military traditions. The Army’s active role in political affairs
is a constant factor in the modern history of Serbia and Yugoslavia
and one of the nation’s most prominent features throughout the
twentieth century. The history of Serbian militarism is inseparable
from the history of Serbian authoritarianism. During the last three
decades of the twentieth century, the Army distinguished itself as
guardian of the regime and the state ideology (i.e., Socialism), a role
that suited the interests of the Serbian national elite. However, during
this period, the Army often operated as an autonomous political
actor in formulating national political goals. 494 Had it not been for
their reliance on the Army, the Serbian nationalists would not have
been so thoroughly convinced that they would triumph.
Collaboration with the Serbian Orthodox Church
Milošević’s advent to power marked the comeback of the Serbian
Orthodox Church (spc), which put its shoulder firmly behind the
Serbian national program. The Serbian nation was built not upon
the state framework within which the Serbian people lived, but by
identification with the church to which the Serbs belonged. In other
words, the Serbian nation came into being as an ethno-confessional
rather than a civil community. Thus, the Serbian identity cannot be
separated from the Serbian church. The spc directly supported Slobodan
Milošević by giving its blessing to his military campaigns and
redrawing of borders. For his part, Milošević found a new source of
legitimacy in the ethno-nationalist ideology of the spc. In that sense,
the spc played a prominent part in rousing the ethno-nationalist
and Greater Serbia fervor of the masses. At the same time, its unreserved
support of Milošević helped mobilize certain anti-Communist
494 Olga Popović-Obradović, Vojna elita i civilna vlast u Srbiji 1903–1914. godine (The
Military Elite and Civil Government in Serbia in 1903–1914), ‘Srbija u modernizacijskim
procesima 19 . i 20 . veka, Uloga elita’ (Serbia in the 19th and 20th Century
Modernization Processes, the Role of Elites), collected papers, Belgrade 2003 .
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