The post-Tito period in Yugoslavia saw the re-appearance of serious discord among the nationalities (the Albano-Serbian conflict, and antagonism among the South Slavs). The nationalist clash was inflamed by the destabilization of the power structure set up in the context of socialist self-management: decentralization at republic and commune level, and consensus between the leadership and the population. This structure, having an economic basis, was damaged by the economic crisis. Destabilization encouraged the growth of nationalist sentiments, which had been smouldering for years, given the policy favoured by the Yugoslav league of communists. The desire of the Serbian and Slovene leagues for a new consensus with the population, based this time on the defence of national interests, also played its part. The growth of the Serbian nationalist movement, and the demand for sovereignty from Slovenia, dissatisfied at the position alloted to it in Yugoslavia, led to conflict between Serbia and Slovenia (not to speak of Croatia) over the system and federalism. In all, the entire concept and the very existence of the Yugoslavian state were called in question. The problems of nationalities, the right to self-determination and the Yugoslav sense of community were openly raised. People also wondered wether nationalism might not act as a brake on the democratic mouvement, which had only been set in motion in each the republics after the free elections of 1990. As we now know, the situation has deteriorated, and at the present moment, it is the voice of the guns which is heard.
