Slobodan Jovanovic
Encyclopedia
Slobodan Jovanović (December 3, 1869, Novi Sad
, Austria-Hungary
– December 12, 1958, London
, United Kingdom
) was one of Serbia
's most prolific jurists, historian
s, sociologists, journalist
s and literary critics. He distinguished himself with a characteristically clear and sharp writing style later called the "Belgrade
style". His contemporaries were Jovan Skerlić
, Bogdan Popović, Pavle Popović and Branko Lazarević, all literary critics.
Liberal in his social and political views, he was perhaps Yugoslavia’s greatest authority on constitutional law
; also a master of Serbian prose style, he was for nearly half a century a leader of the Serbian intelligentsia. He graduated law in Geneva
in 1890. In 1905, he was a professor at the University of Belgrade's Law School
until 1941. He was also a politician
while in exile in London
during World War II.
, on the 3rd of December 1869 to Vladimir Jovanović
and his wife Jelena. He received an excellent education in Belgrade
, Munich
, Zurich
, and Geneva
, where he graduated with a law degree. From 1890 to 1892, he took post-graduate studies in constitutional law
and political science
in Paris
before entering the Serbian foreign service. In 1893 he was appointed political attaché with the Serbian mission to Istanbul
, where he remained for a couple years. It was at this time that he began to write and have his articles on literary criticism published in various publications throughout the land. He eventually left the diplomatic service in favour of academia and literary pursuits. In 1897 he was appointed professor at the University of Belgrade
's Faculty of Law. For more than four decades, Jovanović taught at the law faculty gaining a reputation as an authority on constitutional law and Serbian language and literature. He was Rector
of the University of Belgrade shortly before his retirement in 1939.
He had some influence on political life in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia due to his well established authority in the field of law and history, but he entered directly political life only in 1939 when the Serbian Cultural Club was established, and he was appointed as Club's president.
He was a pro-Western politician and when a pro-Western military coup took place in Belgrade on March 27, 1941, a pro-Western, essentially pro-British government was installed headed by General Dušan Simović
. Jovanović was deputy Prime Minister in that government. The Third Reich attacked the Kingdoms of Yugoslavia and Greece on April 6, and soon defeated Yugoslav and Greek forces. Jovanovic moved in mid April together with King Peter II and other cabinet ministers to Jerusalem and he reached London in July. He became prime minister
of the Yugoslav
government in exile
during World War II
on January 11, 1942 and remained in that position till June 26, 1943. Tried in absence by Josip Broz Tito
's communist regime together with general Draža Mihailović
, he was sentenced to twenty years in jail which he never served, as well as the loss of political and civil rights for a period of ten years, and confiscation of all property and loss of citizenship.
He spent his later years in exile in London (1945–1958). A memorial plaque in honour of "Professor Slobodan Yovanovitch. Serbian historian, literary critic, legal scholar, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia" may be found in London at 39b Queens Gate Gardens, Kensington.
After unofficial rehabilitation in 1989, his collected works were published in 1991.
In Serbia, he is universally regarded as one of the most influential political thinkers of the turn of the century. Leading Serbian quality daily Politika on the occasion of his 70th birthday concluded that "his name has been carved as the highest peak of our culture up to now". In the same issue four most prominent Serbian intellectuals assessed very highly his accomplishments as a historian, jurist, sociologist and writer.
His analysis of the Karađorđević and Obrenović rulers ranks among the clearest and most astute. In Serbia, he initiated discussion about previously little known subjects (such as the question of cultural patterns). He also distinguished himself with literary criticism
and essays on topics ranging from art to culture and politics.
Jovanović became a full member of the Serbian Royal Academy in 1908, and its President from 1928 till 1931. He was also a correspondent member of the Yugoslav Academy of Science in Zagreb from 1927.
He was one of the most prominent intellectual
s of his time. In his career, he was a lawyer, historian, writer, president of the Serbian Royal Academy (now Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
), professor and rector at Belgrade University, and finally, deputy prime minister and prime minister of the Royal Yugoslav government-in-exile.
His collected works were published in 17 volumes in 1939-1940. It contains the results of his unremitting labour as a writer, professor and politician for sixty years, and throws considerable light on Balkan history of the first half of the 20th century, as well as on the author himself. Although his works were not officially banned, any new issue of his books was not permitted in communist Yugoslavia until late 1980s. Finally, a new edition of his collected works was published in Belgrade in 12 volumes in 1991. Since 2003 his portrait is shown on the 5000 dinar
banknote, and his bust stands at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade
. Official rehabilitation occurred on October 26, 2007 by the court in Belgrade.
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
– December 12, 1958, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) was one of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
's most prolific jurists, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
s, sociologists, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s and literary critics. He distinguished himself with a characteristically clear and sharp writing style later called the "Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
style". His contemporaries were Jovan Skerlić
Jovan Skerlić
Jovan Skerlić was a Serbian writer and critic. He is regarded as one of the most influential Serbian literary critics of the early 20th century, after Bogdan Popović.- Biography :...
, Bogdan Popović, Pavle Popović and Branko Lazarević, all literary critics.
Liberal in his social and political views, he was perhaps Yugoslavia’s greatest authority on constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
; also a master of Serbian prose style, he was for nearly half a century a leader of the Serbian intelligentsia. He graduated law in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1890. In 1905, he was a professor at the University of Belgrade's Law School
University of Belgrade Faculty of Law
The University of Belgrade Faculty of Law , also known as the Belgrade Law School, is one of the first-tier educational institutions of the University of Belgrade, Serbia...
until 1941. He was also a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
while in exile in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during World War II.
Biography
Slobodan Jovanović was born at Novi Sad, then part of the Habsburg MonarchyHabsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, on the 3rd of December 1869 to Vladimir Jovanović
Vladimir Jovanovic
Vladimir Jovanović was a Serbian politician, political theorist, economist and journalist.Jovanović was educated at the Universities of Vienna and Berlin in agricultural and economic sciences...
and his wife Jelena. He received an excellent education in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, where he graduated with a law degree. From 1890 to 1892, he took post-graduate studies in constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before entering the Serbian foreign service. In 1893 he was appointed political attaché with the Serbian mission to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, where he remained for a couple years. It was at this time that he began to write and have his articles on literary criticism published in various publications throughout the land. He eventually left the diplomatic service in favour of academia and literary pursuits. In 1897 he was appointed professor at the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
's Faculty of Law. For more than four decades, Jovanović taught at the law faculty gaining a reputation as an authority on constitutional law and Serbian language and literature. He was Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Belgrade shortly before his retirement in 1939.
He had some influence on political life in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia due to his well established authority in the field of law and history, but he entered directly political life only in 1939 when the Serbian Cultural Club was established, and he was appointed as Club's president.
He was a pro-Western politician and when a pro-Western military coup took place in Belgrade on March 27, 1941, a pro-Western, essentially pro-British government was installed headed by General Dušan Simović
Dušan Simovic
Dušan T. Simović was a Yugoslav general who served as chief of the air force and commander-in-chief of the Royal Yugoslav Army and as the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia.-Life and career:...
. Jovanović was deputy Prime Minister in that government. The Third Reich attacked the Kingdoms of Yugoslavia and Greece on April 6, and soon defeated Yugoslav and Greek forces. Jovanovic moved in mid April together with King Peter II and other cabinet ministers to Jerusalem and he reached London in July. He became prime minister
Prime Minister of Yugoslavia
The Prime Minister or the President of the Federal Executive Council of Yugoslavia was the head of government of the Yugoslav state, from the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918 until the end of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992.-Kingdom of...
of the Yugoslav
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
government in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on January 11, 1942 and remained in that position till June 26, 1943. Tried in absence by Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
's communist regime together with general Draža Mihailović
Draža Mihailovic
Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
, he was sentenced to twenty years in jail which he never served, as well as the loss of political and civil rights for a period of ten years, and confiscation of all property and loss of citizenship.
He spent his later years in exile in London (1945–1958). A memorial plaque in honour of "Professor Slobodan Yovanovitch. Serbian historian, literary critic, legal scholar, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia" may be found in London at 39b Queens Gate Gardens, Kensington.
After unofficial rehabilitation in 1989, his collected works were published in 1991.
In Serbia, he is universally regarded as one of the most influential political thinkers of the turn of the century. Leading Serbian quality daily Politika on the occasion of his 70th birthday concluded that "his name has been carved as the highest peak of our culture up to now". In the same issue four most prominent Serbian intellectuals assessed very highly his accomplishments as a historian, jurist, sociologist and writer.
His analysis of the Karađorđević and Obrenović rulers ranks among the clearest and most astute. In Serbia, he initiated discussion about previously little known subjects (such as the question of cultural patterns). He also distinguished himself with literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
and essays on topics ranging from art to culture and politics.
Jovanović became a full member of the Serbian Royal Academy in 1908, and its President from 1928 till 1931. He was also a correspondent member of the Yugoslav Academy of Science in Zagreb from 1927.
He was one of the most prominent intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
s of his time. In his career, he was a lawyer, historian, writer, president of the Serbian Royal Academy (now Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
), professor and rector at Belgrade University, and finally, deputy prime minister and prime minister of the Royal Yugoslav government-in-exile.
His collected works were published in 17 volumes in 1939-1940. It contains the results of his unremitting labour as a writer, professor and politician for sixty years, and throws considerable light on Balkan history of the first half of the 20th century, as well as on the author himself. Although his works were not officially banned, any new issue of his books was not permitted in communist Yugoslavia until late 1980s. Finally, a new edition of his collected works was published in Belgrade in 12 volumes in 1991. Since 2003 his portrait is shown on the 5000 dinar
Serbian dinar
The dinar is the currency of Serbia. An earlier currency also called dinar was used in Serbia between 1868 and 1918. The earliest use of the dinar date to 1214. Today's Serbian dinar is a continuation of the last Yugoslav dinar...
banknote, and his bust stands at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade
University of Belgrade Faculty of Law
The University of Belgrade Faculty of Law , also known as the Belgrade Law School, is one of the first-tier educational institutions of the University of Belgrade, Serbia...
. Official rehabilitation occurred on October 26, 2007 by the court in Belgrade.
Works
- О суверености, Београд 1897 / O suverenosti, Beograd 1897 [On Sovereignty, Belgrade, 1897].
- О дводомном систему, Београд 1899 / O dvodomnom sistemu, Beograd 1899 [On Bicameral System, Belgrade, 1899].
- Велика народна скупштина, Београд 1900 / Velika narodna skupština, Beograd 1900 [Great People's Assembly, Belgrade, 1900].
- Српско-бугарски рат. Расправа из дипломатске историје, Београд 1901 / Srpsko-bugarski rat. Rasprava iz diplomatske istorije, Beograd 1901 [Serbo-Bulgarian War. A paper in diplomatic history], Belgrade 1901].
- Светотар Марковић, Београд 1903 / Svetotar Marković, Beograd 1903 [Svetozar Markovic, Belgrade 1903].
- Основи правне теорије о држави, Београд 1906 / Osnovi pravne teorije o državi, Beograd 1906 [An Introducation to the Legal Theory on State, Belgrade, 1906].
- Основи јавног права Краљевине Србије, Београд 1907-1909 / Osnovi javnog prava Kraljevine Srbije, Beograd 1907-1909 [An Introduction to the Public Law of the Kingdom of Serbia, Belgrade, 1907–1909, in two volumes].
- Макиавели, Београд 1907 / Makiaveli, Beograd 1907.
- Полититчке и правне расправе, Београд 1908-1910 / Polititčke i pravne rasprave, Beograd 1908-1910 [Political and Legal Considerations, Belgrade, 1908–1910, in two volumes].
- Уставобранитељи и њихова влада, Српска краљевска академија, Београд 1912 / Ustavobranitelji i njihova vlada, Srpska kraljevska akademija, Beograd 1912 [Constitutionalists and their Government (Belgrade: Serbian Royal Academy, 1912).
- Университетско питање, Београд 1914 / Universitetsko pitanje, Beograd 1914 [University Question, Belgrade, 1914].
- Вођи француске револуције, Београд 1920 / Vođi francuske revolucije, Beograd 1920 [Leaders of the French Revolution, Belgrade, 1920].
- О држави, Београд 1922 / O državi, Beograd 1922 [On State, Belgrade, 1922].
- Друга влада Милоша и Михаила, Београд 1923 / Druga vlada Miloša i Mihaila, Beograd 1923 [The Second Rule of Milosh and Michael, Belgrade, 1923].
- Уставно право Краљевине Срба, Хрвата и Словенаца, Београд 1924 / Ustavno pravo Kraljevine Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca, Beograd 1924 [Constitutional Law of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Belgrade, 1924].
- Влада Милана Обреновића, Геца Кон, Београд 1926-1927 / Vlada Milana Obrenovića, Geca Kon, Beograd 1926-1927 [The Rule of Milan Obrenovich (Belgrade: Geca Kon, 1926–1927), in two volumes].
- Влада Александра Обреновића, Геца Кон, Београд 1929-1931. / Vlada Aleksandra Obrenovića, Geca Kon, Beograd 1929-1931. [The Rule of Alexander Obrenovich (Belgrade: Geca Kon, 1929–1931, in two volumes].
- Из историје политичких доктрина, Београд 1935 / Iz istorije političkih doktrina, Beograd 1935 [From the History of Political Doctrines, Belgrade, 1935].
- Гледстон, Југо-исток, Београд 1938 / Gledston, Jugo-istok, Beograd 1938 [Slobodan Jovanovic, Gladstone (Belgrade: Jugo-istok, 1938)].
- Амерички федерализам, Београд 1939 / Američki federalizam, Beograd 1939 [American Federalism, Belgrade, 1939].
- Примери политичке социологије, Енглеска, Француска, Немачка 1815-1914, Београд 1940 / Primeri političke sociologije, Engleska, Francuska, Nemačka 1815-1914, Beograd 1940 [Examples of Political Sociology: England, France and Germany, 1815–1914, Belgrade, 1940].
- О тоталитаризму, Ослобођење, Париз 1952 / O totalitarizmu, Oslobođenje, Pariz 1952 [On Totalitarianism (Paris: Oslobodjenje, 1952].
- Један прилог за проучавање српског националног карактера, Виндзор - Канада 1964 / Jedan prilog za proučavanje srpskog nacionalnog karaktera, Vindzor - Kanada 1964 [A Contribution to the Study of the Serbian National Character, Windsor /Canada/, 1964].
- Записи о проблемима и људима, 1941–1944, Лондон 1976 / Zapisi o problemima i ljudima, 1941–1944, London 1976 [Notes on Problems and Individuals, 1941–1944, London, 1976)]
Papers in English
- Slobodan Jovanovich, Tito and the Western World (reprinted from The Eastern Quarterly), London, 1952, pp. 6.
- Slobodan Jovanovich, On the New Machiavellism (reprinted from The Eastern Quarterly), London, 1952, pp. 5.