Svetozar Stojanović earned his PhD in philosophy from the University of Belgrade in 1962, marking the start of a career defined by rigorous intellectual opposition to political dogma. Over the following decades, he utilized his position as an educator and theorist to challenge governing structures in Yugoslavia, leading to his eventual expulsion from university life during the mid-seventies.
Academic Career and Dissent
Stojanović established himself as a prominent member of The Praxis Group, a collective of eight academics focused on critical social theory. In January 1975, this work resulted in his dismissal from the University of Belgrade. His academic contributions were extensive, spanning 130 journal articles and seven books, including works published by Oxford University Press and Prometheus Books. These writings, such as Between Ideals and Reality and The Fall of Yugoslavia, were translated into fourteen languages, reaching audiences in countries including Japan, France, and Germany. He also served as the chief editor of Praxis International from 1987 to 1990.
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The collapse of socialist Yugoslavia allowed Stojanović to return to the University of Belgrade in the early nineties. During this transitional period, he worked as a special adviser to President Dobrica Ćosić from 1992 to 1993. Stojanović maintained a long-standing criticism of Slobodan Milošević, eventually participating in the Serbian democratic revolution of October 2000. Following the regime change, he served on the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation under President Vojislav Koštunica and acted as a member of the Council for Foreign Relations for the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Global Philosophical Network
Beyond his domestic influence, Stojanović maintained a presence in the international philosophical community. He was a signatory of the Humanist Manifesto II in 1973 and served as co-chairman of the International Humanist and Ethical Union from 1985 to 1987. His memberships included the International Academy of Humanism, the Paris International Institute of Philosophy, and the Academy of Humanistic Studies in Moscow. Additionally, he held visiting professorships across the United States, India, Great Britain, Austria, and Germany, while contributing to the governing board of the Korčula Summer School.
Fast facts
- Born: 1931, Kragujevac
- Died: 7 May 2010, Belgrade
- Academic Degree: PhD in Philosophy
- Primary Employer: University of Belgrade
- Key Publication: The Fall of Yugoslavia: Why Communism Failed
- Political Role: Special adviser to Dobrica Ćosić
Questions readers ask
What was The Praxis Group?
It was a collective of eight professors and teachers, including Stojanović, who were expelled from the University of Belgrade in 1975 for dissident activities.
What specific political role did he hold after the 2000 revolution?
He was appointed to the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation by President Vojislav Koštunica and served as a member of the Council for Foreign Relations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Belgrade
