liberalism in serbia and montenegro

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Serbia and Montenegro. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

Introduction

Liberal parties were active in former Serbia and later in Yugoslavia. After the restoration of democracy liberal factions became active again. Liberalism is divided in Serbia. The small centrist Civic Alliance of Serbia (Graanski Savez Srbije) has a clear liberal profile. The right of center Democratic Party (Demokratska Stranka) officially aligned itself with the European social democrats and the G17 Plus is somewhere between liberalism and conservatism. The liberal character of the Liberals of Serbia (Liberali Srbije, observer LI, member ELDR) is disputed due to their campaign for the last elections, in which it lost parliamentary representation. The Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (Liberalni Savez Crne Gore, member LI) is more or less a liberal party. The Yugoslav parties which were not active in Serbia or Montenegro are not included in the timeline.

The timeline

From Liberals to National Party

1881: The followers of the liberal Vladimir Jovanović, the Liberals (Liberalni) established in 1881 their party, the Society for the promotion of Serbian Literature (Druina za potmoganje srpske knjievnosti)
1883: The party is renamed Liberal Party (Liberalna Stranka)
1904: A left-wing faction seceded as the ⇒ Liberal Democratic Party, the rest continues as the National Party (Narodna Stranka)
1905: The ⇒ Liberal Democratic Party merged into the National Party
1920: The party disappears

Liberal Democratic Party

1904: A left-wing faction of the ⇒ Liberal Party seceded as the Liberal Democratic Party (Liberalnodemokratska Stranka)
1905: The party merged into the ⇒ National Party

Democratic Party (1919)

1919: The Independent Radical Party, the Progressives as well as Croatian and Slovenian parties merged into the pan-Yugoslav more or less liberal State Party of Serbian, Croatian and Slovene Democrats (Dravnotvorna Stranka Demokrata Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca)
1919: The party is renamed into the Democratic Community (Demokratska Zajednica)
1920: The party is renamed into the Democratic Party (Demokratska Stranka), led by Ljubomir Davidović
1924: A faction formed the ⇒ Independent Democratic Party
1945: The party is dissolved

Independent Democratic Party

1924: The former Serbian Independent Party seceded from the ⇒ Democratic Party and constituted the Independent Democratic Party (Samostalna Demokratska Stranka), led by Svetozar Pribičević, mainly active in the Serbian population of Croatia
1945: The party is dissolved

Democratic Party (1990)

1990: Liberal and moderate social democratic intellectuals established the Democratic Party (Demokratska Stranka)
1992: A nationalist wing seceded as the Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska Stranka Srbije)

Liberal Alliance of Montenegro

1990: The Montenegran liberals established in 1990 the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (Liberalni Savez Crne Gore)

From League of Reformist Forces of Yugoslavia to Civic Alliance of Serbia

1989: Ante Marković founded the League of Reformist Forces of Yugoslavia, which was unsuccesful in Serbia, but was the basis of liberal parties in e.g. Macedonia
1991: The party is renamed in Serbia Reformist Party
1992: The party merged with the Republican Club into the social liberal Civic Alliance of Serbia (Građanski Savez Srbije), led by Vesna Peić

From New Democracy to Liberals of Serbia

1991: The Social Democratic Youth League of Serbia (Socijaldemokratski savez mladih Srbije)reconstituted itself as the liberal New Democracy
2002 : The party is renamed Liberals of Serbia (Liberali Srbije). The liberal character of the party is disputed.

Liberal leaders

Vladimir Jovanovic

References

p.m.