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Republika
/ RES PUBLICA
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Who
we are, what we are doing, what our goals
are
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Participant
and Witness
 Participant
and Witness of Change Magazine Republika
was born in March 1989, founded by intellectuals,
members of the Union for Yugoslav Democratic
Initiative (UYDI). Their goal: democratic
transformation of society and the state. Based
on common sense and previous experience in
the struggle for democracy, the founders saw
as their key goal the establishment, in law
and practice, of the basic principles of human
rights; this would be done through elections
for the constitutional assembly, that would
adopt a new, democratic constitution; hence,
all problems and issues would be solved in
parliaments (of the federation and member
states), and not on battlefields.
That is how we understood the concepts of
freedom and democracy; that is what the magazine
stands for: civil self-liberation.
When political changes led to wars, crime
and plundering - the state regressing to "natural
state" - we spoke up against the elements
of fear, hate and violence. |
We
were witnesses of the development, dominance
and the terrible consequences of these wars
on human lives, society and the state. We
took part in the resistance to those events
(remaining the only consistent critical voice
during the NATO bombing in 1999).
We cooperated with all those who were against
the wars and struggled for democratic changes:
independent media and journalists, opposition
parties, trade unions, emerging anti-war groups,
non-governmental organizations and social
movements. All these participants, together
with the efforts of the international community,
finally brought down the anti-democratic regime.
Elections and demonstrations in the year 2000
opened the way to democracy. In new circumstances,
our magazine remains not just an observer
but a participant in the long process of democratic
changes. |
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Our Work
Republika
is a biweekly, printed continually for fourteen
years with the circulation of approx. five
thousand copies (sometimes more, sometimes
less).
In that time, we have published around ten
thousand articles, columns and analysis,
by over two thousand authors, in three hundred
regular, and around one hundred special
editions. Many of Republika's
analyses are reprinted in Yugoslav and international
media.
Since May 1999, our magazine can also be
found on the Internet.
We have published 27 books; some of which
have been translated to other languages.
Our capital work "Serbian Road to War"
has had two editions in South-Slavic languages,
one in English, one in French, one in German,
and some parts have been published in Italian,
Russian and Greek; we expect a translation
in Bulgarian soon.
Magazine Republika
is read in Serbia, all parts of the former
Yugoslavia, and many other countries.
Yet, we admit that the current number of
our readers (and contributors) is not large
enough, nor strong enough to have a meaningful
influence on the current state of affairs.
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On
the other hand, it's not as small as our opponents
- who are numerous - would have it. Although
we are often labeled as "traitors",
"foreign mercenaries" and "globalists"
as well as "anti-Serbs" and "communists",
we are always open for reasonable criticism
and dialogue, and the other kind we acknowledge
as the reality we live in.
Prior to the changes in 2000, our readers
told us that our magazine and our work gave
them psychological and moral support, by showing
them that they are not alone and all was not
lost.
After October 5th, 2000, we received a different
message, that there is no need for further
work, since the victory of freedom and democracy
has been assured.
We do not believe in the final victory of
the Good, as we had not accepted the final
triumph of Evil. Our struggle for freedom
and democracy continues, this time through
lobbying for elections for the constitutional
assembly. |
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Right to life
The concept of civil
self-liberation means, to us, the defense
of the basic human right to life. Endangered
by violence, hate and fear, this most essential
human right can be reasserted by continuous
struggle for freedom of the individual and
the democratic development of society.
In the future, our magazine will further
stress the need for democratic changes,
and point out to all issues limiting, endangering
or preventing them. We offer to and expect
cooperation from a wide circle of contributors
and readers on the following:
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creation of legal, institutional and
procedural environment for free circulation
and expression of information, interests,
and ideas; establishment of qualified
and influential public opinion, and
curbing of influence of totalitarian
ideologies, propaganda and manipulation
of the public;
o
bringing
to the public eye the issue and calling
for sanctions of war crimes; development
of critical thought, culture and,
most important, establishment of the
independent judiciary;
o
struggle for legal
regulation of political activities
and power, and keeping watch on those
political players, who are prone to
bringing back the use of elements
of fear, hate and violence in political
discourse;
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o
economic and social reforms, with
the cost of transition righteously
distributed through a continuous social
and political dialogue of the trade
unions, employers and the state;
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development of cultural pluralism
and dialogue of the advocates of humanist,
liberal and socialist ideas and visions,
in contrast to the destructive ideologies
such as Stalinism, nationalism, clericalism
and militant patriarchalism;
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finally, seeking the end of isolation
and mending fences with neighboring
countries, opening up to world and
shaping our own and European identity,
in harmony with regional, European
and global processes of integration;
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Striving for new partnerships in the
democratic elements of society in
order to create conditions for free
and fair elections for the constitutional
assembly that would establish democratic
institutions and rule of law.
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Based
on recent experience and those elements
in our tradition that strive for democracy
and civil rights, we are confident that
it is possible to achieve democratic changes
and prevent recurrence of old and creation
of new conflicts. We feel that we are not
as alone as we have been in the early years,
especially with support from our readers
and contributors.
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About
the Publisher
After unsuccessful attempts
in Zagreb and Belgrade, the founder and
publisher of the magazine, Union for Yugoslav
Democratic Initiative (UYDI), was first
registered in Titograd (today Podgorica).
In 1991 the war with Croatia started, causing
the founder association UYDI to transform
into several different organizations, a
non-governmental organization, a political
party and a publishing group. Founding rights
were transferred to the Editorial Board
and the Publishing Council of Republika.
Continuation of the publishing of the magazine
was constantly in question, plans being
made just a few months, a year at most,
in advance; but somehow it has made it into
its fifteenth year.
The regime change in Serbia in the year
2000 and return to normal life saw the founding
of a new company that will continue to publish
the magazine. On November 8th, 2001, the
editors and contributors of Republika
formally registered their Cooperative for
Intellectual Activities RES PUBLICA with
the District Financial Court in Belgrade.
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Activities
The Cooperative is registered
for following activities:
o
publishing of newspapers, magazines,
books, brochures, video and audio
records, and other publications;
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printing and other graphic activities;
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conducting of research and development
in the field of humanist and social
sciences;
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educational activities;
o
counseling on political, social
and economic issues;
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development of software and data
processing;
o
conducting market and public opinion
research;
o
marketing and propaganda.
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The Cooperative is managed
by the Members' Assembly, the Managing Board
and the General Manager, under the law and
the Statute. Initial payment for extending
the full-rights membership is 3.000 Dinars
(approximately 37 Euro). |
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Plans
The Cooperative is now
facing two major challenges: to complete
its financial consolidation, and to develop
its performance on the market.
Second is related to the changes in income
structure: it seeks to increase the percentage
of its commercial activities and gains,
such as sales and subscription of Republika
and other editions, and start new projects
which will make it self-financed in the
future.
Some of the new projects of the Cooperative
involve other media: audio, video and Internet;
we are interested in spreading our message
to a larger audience and are seeking ways
to do this alternative to print. The alternative
will, of course, be radio and television,
as well as Internet.
We welcome to our Assembly new members who
are interested in bringing forth new projects,
or support and development of our on-going
projects, with part of the profit invested
in the Cooperative. The Members' Assembly
will consider and vote on all new programs
and projects.
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Editoral
staff
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Seated (from the left): Dragoš
Ivanović, Nebojša Popov, Dragan Mišković,
Zlatoje Martinov, Pero Mužijević.
Standing: Mirko Đorđević, Nastasja Radović,
Bojan al Pinto-Brkić, Olivija Rusovac, Slavica
Vučković, Vera Ranković, Ljubiša Vujošević. |
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