Policy as a Factor of the Transformation of the Yugoslav Rural Community

In the first section of his article the author considers the basic components of society. He then goes on to discuss the directions, spheres and levels of policy. Apart from society’s general policy there exist also the separate policies of certain lower levels of society. According to techniques and direction, policy may be liberal or protectionist, conservative or radical. As in all previous societies, in Yugoslavia too the peasants have played a secondary role in the development of political ideology, and as result an imposed ideology prevails. The author then considers the characteristics and results of Yugoslavia’s policy regarding agriculture and rural communities. The first post-war period was marked by dogmatism which was subsequently replaced by a pragmatic orientation. Due to too distant and insufficiently definite objectives, the measures of current policies could not be adjusted to political strategy. Yugoslav political dogmatism has continued longest in relation to agriculture and rural communities. Three basic slogans of agrarian ideology — collectivization, co-operation and association — have replaced one another since the war. Occasional attempts to achieve the impossible have made it necessary to modify policy in order to meet the requirements of practical life. Like policy, science too has shown certain deviations as regards rural communities. The initial dogmatic, a priori view on the rural community and private farming as superseded forms was subsequently replaced by a neutralist attitude which neglected the social aspect. The attitude of scientists ranges from a general glorification of the results of the adopted policy to critical views of that policy and to warnings of weak points in the objectives and means of the country\u27s policy towards agriculture and the rural community