Yugoslav Left
Encyclopedia
Yugoslav Left was a left-wing
political party
in Serbia and Montenegro
. It was formed in 1994 as is a coalition of 23 left-wing
and communist
parties, led by the League of Communists - Movement for Yugoslavia (SK-PJ). It has been led by Mirjana Marković
, the wife of Slobodan Milošević
. JUL declared itself to be a party of all "left-wing and progressive forces that believed that the general interest always comes above private interest", including communists, greens
social democrats
, and socialists
.
It was considered an all-Yugoslavia party, as opposed to Slobodan Milošević's Socialist Party of Serbia
(SPS), which had only a Serbian base (the SPS did not run in Montenegro, the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
or DPS CG, was its partner in the Federal Assembly). Despite minor differences, these parties collaborated closely. JUL has generally not taken part in elections separately. Several members of the SPS crossed the floor to JUL at some stage.
In 1996, JUL ran in a coalition with the SPS and New Democracy
. The party has had some ten MPs and representatives in various local assemblies. It has held ministerial posts during Milošević's period. In the 2003 Serbian legislative elections, JUL received only a 0.1% of the votes.
As for international cooperation, JUL has visited the gatherings of several leftwing political forces both in Europe
and worldwide, including ties with the Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party of Cuba
and Workers' Party of Korea
.
Its social base is mainly amongst peasants and pauperised workers, but it also had members from the so-called nouveau riche of Serbia during Milošević's terms in office, and many high-ranked civil servants and army staff. During 1990s, opponents of Milošević's government sometimes referred to the JUL "a branch of Communist Party of China
in Yugoslavia".
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. It was formed in 1994 as is a coalition of 23 left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
and communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
parties, led by the League of Communists - Movement for Yugoslavia (SK-PJ). It has been led by Mirjana Marković
Mirjana Markovic
Mirjana "Mira" Marković is the leader of the Yugoslav Left political party and the widow and childhood friend of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević.-Personal life:...
, the wife of Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
. JUL declared itself to be a party of all "left-wing and progressive forces that believed that the general interest always comes above private interest", including communists, greens
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
social democrats
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, and socialists
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
It was considered an all-Yugoslavia party, as opposed to Slobodan Milošević's Socialist Party of Serbia
Socialist Party of Serbia
The Socialist Party of Serbia is officially a democratic socialist political party in Serbia. It is also widely recognized as a de facto Serbian nationalist party, though the party itself does not officially acknowledge this...
(SPS), which had only a Serbian base (the SPS did not run in Montenegro, the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
or DPS CG, was its partner in the Federal Assembly). Despite minor differences, these parties collaborated closely. JUL has generally not taken part in elections separately. Several members of the SPS crossed the floor to JUL at some stage.
In 1996, JUL ran in a coalition with the SPS and New Democracy
Liberals of Serbia
The Liberals of Serbia was a political party in Serbia.The party was originally founded in 1990, when the Social Democratic Youth League reconstituted itself as New Democracy...
. The party has had some ten MPs and representatives in various local assemblies. It has held ministerial posts during Milošević's period. In the 2003 Serbian legislative elections, JUL received only a 0.1% of the votes.
As for international cooperation, JUL has visited the gatherings of several leftwing political forces both in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and worldwide, including ties with the Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
and Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
.
Its social base is mainly amongst peasants and pauperised workers, but it also had members from the so-called nouveau riche of Serbia during Milošević's terms in office, and many high-ranked civil servants and army staff. During 1990s, opponents of Milošević's government sometimes referred to the JUL "a branch of Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in Yugoslavia".