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Republika / RES PUBLICA
 
Who we are, what we are doing, what our goals are
 
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.
 
 

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.

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.

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:

o 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;

 

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;
o 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;
o 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;
o 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.

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.

 

RES PUBLICA

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.

Activities
The Cooperative is registered for following activities:

o publishing of newspapers, magazines, books, brochures, video and audio records, and other publications;
o printing and other graphic activities;
o conducting of research and development in the field of humanist and social sciences;
o educational activities;
o counseling on political, social and economic issues;
o development of software and data processing;
o conducting market and public opinion research;
o marketing and propaganda.
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).

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.

Editoral staff

 

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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