Modernism and Politics in the Architecture of Socialist Yugoslavia, 1945-1965

Abstract

The architectural history of Socialist Yugoslavia raises more questions than it answers. The introduction of modernism in communist architecture of the second half of the twentieth century seems contradictory and this thesis focuses on research of the historical and political background of this occurrence. Modernism can be traced to the years of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the early twentieth century, and this thesis further examines its key players, their intellectual and educational background, and the main buildings from the period. Focusing on postwar implementation of modernism in the architecture of Yugoslavia, this thesis investigates its connection with the politics of the time period as well as the influences of the prewar modernist expressions. Considering the crucial role of politics in the examination of modernism in Yugoslavian architecture during the Cold War era, this thesis further investigates relations between Yugoslavian government and officials, and the Eastern Bloc. The ramifications of the events of 1948 and the end of amicable relationship with the Soviet Union and its leader Stalin made a significant mark on Yugoslavian politics and consequently on its architecture.