The Brijuni Plenum as an Ideological and Conceptual Conflict: The Dispute over the State Secretariat for Foreign Affairs

Abstract

The Yugoslav paradigm of self-governing socialism, established following its 1948 rupture with the USSR, grappled with the formidable task of differentiating itself from the Soviet model of socialism, which until that point stood as the solitary blueprint for a revolutionary order. As Yugoslavia sculpted its distinctive brand of socialism, it navigated ideological fault lines and contended with two divergent outlooks. These opposing views permeated all institutional facets and centred around a pivotal debate: the positioning and function of the sole party in socio-economic and political spheres. The zenith of these conceptual divergences emerged in the early 1960s, climaxing and finding resolution at the Brijuni Plenum in 1966. This article scrutinizes the theoretical disparities within the Yugoslav leadership concerning the party's role in the lead-up to the Brijuni Plenum. The discord between the State Secretariat for Foreign Affairs (DSIP) and the central party entities, epitomized by Aleksandar Ranković, offers a salient illustration of contrasting perspectives on the party's role within the self-governing framework. This lens examines a crucial aspect of the confrontation to Ranković at the Brijuni Plenum, shedding light on the broader spectrum of actors involved in this watershed moment. The analysis draws upon premier archival materials and sources, illuminating the profound underpinnings of this pivotal juncture at the Yugoslav political and party summit.