Slobodan Jovanović served as the Prime Minister of the Yugoslav government-in-exile in London between January 1942 and June 1943. A prolific intellectual, he occupied a central place in Serbian academia and law for over four decades, navigating the complex political transformations of the twentieth century while producing extensive historical and legal scholarship.
Academic and Professional Foundations
Born in 1869 in Novi Sad, Jovanović pursued an extensive education, attending the First Belgrade Gymnasium before graduating from the University of Geneva. He furthered his studies in political science and constitutional law at Sciences Po in Paris. His professional career began in the Serbian foreign service, including a posting in Constantinople, before he transitioned into academia. In 1897, he joined the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, where he taught for over forty years. His leadership in higher education included two terms as rector of the university, serving from 1913 to 1914 and again from 1920 to 1921.
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Jovanović represented the Yugoslav government as an expert during the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. In 1920, he led the multi-ethnic committee tasked with drafting the Vidovdan Constitution. His political involvement deepened in 1939 as president of the Serbian Cultural Club. Following a government coup in March 1941, he served as Deputy Prime Minister. After the collapse of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, he relocated to London, eventually leading the government-in-exile until 1943.
Legal Philosophy and Intellectual Legacy
As a jurist, Jovanović was a critic of Hans Kelsen's Pure Theory of Law, arguing against the separation of legal and political analysis. He maintained that the state and legal systems were fundamentally linked. A member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, he held the presidency of the Serbian Royal Academy between 1928 and 1931. His extensive body of work, spanning seventeen volumes by 1940, covers history, literature, and political theory.
Exile and Rehabilitation
Following the change in governance in Yugoslavia, Jovanović was tried in absentia and sentenced to twenty years imprisonment, though he remained in London until his death in 1958. He never served this sentence, nor did he regain his civil rights within his home country during his lifetime. In 1989, he underwent an unofficial rehabilitation, and his collected works were subsequently reissued in 1991. A memorial plaque now marks his former residence at 39b Queen's Gate Gardens in Kensington.
Fast facts
- Born: 1869, Novi Sad
- Died: 1958, London
- Prime Minister of Yugoslavia: 1942–1943
- Primary Academic Affiliation: University of Belgrade Faculty of Law
- Languages Spoken: English, Serbian
- Academic Membership: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Notable Recognition: Honorary doctor of Comenius University
Questions readers ask
What was the central focus of Slobodan Jovanović's academic work?
Democracy was the primary subject of his scholarly research and legal writing.
Did Jovanović return to Yugoslavia after the political changes of the 1940s?
No, he remained in exile in London for the remainder of his life.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Belgrade Faculty of Law
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