Ljubomir Stojanović in the First World War

Pokušali smo da u ovom radu progovorimo o Ljubomiru Stojanoviću, sasvim osobitoj ličnosti u istoriji srpske politike, političke misli, nauke i kulture. U središte izlaganja stavili smo period Prvog svetskog rata razumevajući pri tome te njegove godine kao dramatičan nastavak jednog dužeg procesa političkog formiranja, razočaranja i gubitka iluzija. Na kraju, pak kao početak razdoblja novih političkih i naučnih oduševljavanja, okončanog još jednim relativnim neuspehom u politici, ali ne i u nauci.Ljubomir (Ljuba) Stojanovic, linguist, historian, and politician left a deep mark on the history of Serbia's science, culture, and politics. Our knowledge of him is insufficient, the information being not scarce but rather unverified and incomprehensive. This work represents an attempt to speak of his war years, spent partly in Serbia, partly in the diplomatic mission in Russia, but mostly as an emigrant in Nice. The image that emerges from a study of his private correspondence and other documents from that period is that of a scientist and politician disappointed with Serb politics and political parties, but nevertheless still capable of enthusiasm and commitment to a specific cause. Above all, he was a man deeply moved by his country's military breakdown and by the internal national drama of his people. Similarly to some other scientists, his ideas regarding national and political questions evolved in favor of the unification of the Serbs Croats, and Slovenes within a single state. Gradually modifying his views under the influence of factors such as European democratic trends, the revolutionary changes in Russia, America's entry into war, frequent contacts with Yugoslavs from Austria-Hungary, and disagreement with the policy of Nikola Pašić, towards the end of the war Ljuba Stojanovic definitely supported the idea of a republican and federal constitution for the future Yugoslav state. He hurried back to Serbia to be among those heading the creation of a community that would represent a union of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes