The Yugoslav Community and Old Peasants

In this article the author describes the effects of the ageing of Yugoslavia’s peasant population. Yugoslavia\u27s population, especially that in rural districts, is becoming comparatively older. As a result there are an increasing number of villages where one out of three, or even every second inhabitant is over 60 years old. The natural increase in population is lower in rural districts than in towns. This is due to the large number of young people giving up agricultural work and leaving the villages. Yugoslav villages differ greatly in size and in the levels of social organization and urbanization. About one third of the villages are situated in mountain districts. The life of ageing peasants in these villages is becoming increasingly difficult. Their working ability is diminishing, they have to give up land cultivation, they no longer reconstruct or maintain their houses and farm buildings, etc. Social life is also declining in these villages. A certain proportion of young people are not prepared to look after their old parents, while some are unable to do so because of their own inadequate incomes. Changes in the way of life and in the traditional views and values have led to increasing individualism and a conflicting relationship between the generations. The traditional forms of family solidarity are dying out while new ones within society as a whole are not yet adequately developed. It is the old peasants who have become the victims of this transitional situation. (As defined by a peasant: »Before, we had to please our elders; now we have to please the younger generations. When are we going to live?«) The author calls for a speedy inclusion of peasants into the country’s collective system of health insurance and social welfare which covers the other categories of the population