Josip Broz Tito

Josip Broz Tito {{Audio|sr-JosipBrozTito.ogg|listen}} (May 7, 1892 – May 4, 1980) was the leader of Yugoslavia between the end of World War II and his death in 1980.

Post-war

After the Tito-?uba?i? Agreement in late 1944, the provisional government of Democratic Federal Yugoslavia was assembled on March 7, 1945 in Belgrade, headed by Tito. After the elections in November 1945, Tito became the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Related Topics:
Tito-?uba?i? Agreement - March 7 - Belgrade - Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs

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In 1948, Tito became the first Communist leader who defied Stalin's leadership over the Cominform, and the Yugoslav Communist Party was ejected from the association on June 28, 1948. This brought Tito much international recognition, but also caused a rift with the Soviet Union and triggered a period of instability often referred to as the Informbiro period. Tito's form of communism was labelled Titoism by Moscow which encouraged purges against suspected "Titoites'" throughout the Communist bloc.

Related Topics:
1948 - Cominform - June 28 - Soviet Union - Informbiro - Titoism - Moscow - Communist bloc

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On June 26, 1950, the National Assembly supported a crucial bill written by Milovan ?ilas and Tito about "self-management" (samoupravljanje): a type of independent socialism that experimented with profit sharing with workers in state-run enterprises. On January 13, 1953, they established that the Law on Self-management was the basis of the entire social order in Yugoslavia. Tito also succeeded Ivan Ribar as the President of Yugoslavia on January 14, 1953. On April 7, 1963, the country changed its official name to Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Related Topics:
June 26 - 1950 - Milovan ?ilas - Self-management - Socialism - Profit sharing - January 13 - 1953 - Ivan Ribar - January 14 - April 7 - 1963 - Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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Under Tito's leadership, Yugoslavia also became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1961, Tito co-founded the movement with Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser and India's Jawaharlal Nehru, thus establishing strong ties with the third world countries.

Related Topics:
Non-Aligned Movement - 1961 - Egypt - Gamal Abdel Nasser - India - Jawaharlal Nehru - Third world

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For a period in the 1960s and '70s, some intellectuals in the west saw Tito's model of market socialism as representing a point to which the Soviet and western economic systems would over time converge. The Yugoslav standard of living was somewhat higher than Eastern Europe, particularly because of the fact that Yugoslavs were permitted to travel easily to Western Europe or other countries, bringing in money to support the economy.

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Tito's greatest strength in the eyes of the west had been in suppressing nationalist insurrections and maintaining unity throughout the country. It was Tito's call for unity, and related methods, that held together the people of Yugoslavia. This ability was put at a test several times during his reign, notably during the so-called Croatian Spring (also referred to as masovni pokret, maspok, meaning "mass movement") when the government had to suppress both public demonstrations and dissenting opinions within the Communist Party.

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On May 16, 1974, a new Constitution was passed, and Josip Broz Tito was named President for life.

Related Topics:
May 16 - 1974 - Constitution - President for life

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In January 1980 Tito was admitted to the clinical centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia with circulation problems in his legs, and his left leg was amputated soon afterwards. He died there on May 4, 1980, and his funeral drew many world celebrities, mainly politicians. It was the second largest funeral in history, by number of politicians and state delegations.

Related Topics:
1980 - Ljubljana - Slovenia - May 4 - Politicians

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