Serbian Democratization
A history of Serbian democratization.
For the less democratic side of these events, see the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Contents
Occupations
Serbia spent centuries under a variety of foreign powers. Under Hungary it was organized as the banates of Macsó (alternatively Mačva) and Belgrade. Under Byzantine influence, it was organized a a despotate. Under the Ottomans, it was organized as the sanjaks of Smederevo (alternatively Semendire) and Vidin within Rumelia. Under the Habsburgs, it was temporarily re-raised to a kingdom.
Serbs rebelled repeatedly against the Ottomans between 1804 and 1835. These led to concessions from the Ottomans, including autonomy as a principality.
Serbs in Hungary also rebelled against the Austrians in 1848, establishing the short-lived Serbian Vojvodina.
Kingdom of Serbia
The Treaty of Berlin recognized the full independence of Serbia, which shortly thereafter was raised to a kingdom.
Serbia participated in the Balkan Wars. Notably, Macedonia was split with Bulgaria.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Following the Treaty of Trianon, lands occupied by Slavs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were granted to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. The official name became Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
On March 27th, 1941, King Peter II overthrew the Axis-aligned regency of Paul. Germany invaded in retaliation.
Government of National Salvation
During World War 2, Serbia was governed by the German client state of the Government of National Salvation.
Yugoslavia
Tito led the Yugoslav Partisans to liberate the former kingdom, and following World War 2 established the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. Serbia was administered as a federal republic within Yugoslavia. Kosovo and Vojvodina were administered as autonomous provinces.
After Tito died, the chair of the presidency council began to rotate among members.
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
When Mesić became chair of the presidency council, he ceased to attend meetings. The members from Slovenia and Macedonia similarly abandoned government, leaving just Milošević and his supporters.
Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence. Montenegro also held a referendum on independence but did not exit the federation. The entire region erupted into violence, in a period known as the Yugoslav Wars.
The UN refused to recognize the remaining federation as Yugoslavia, blocking them from representation. By 2003, they were forced to renounce claim to the name, and became Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2006, Montenegro held a new new referendum and finally voted to exit federation.