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This article assesses the importance of a set of political, diplomatic and military factors which provided the context for shaping the set-up, course and outcome of the UN operation in Croatia's Eastern Slavonia. This operation has been generally regarded as a particularly successful one, thanks to specifically favourable circumstances and actions taken by the sides involved. The conceptual and practical dimensions of 'success' are examined in the operation, and it is argued that the context of the operation, in its overall dynamics, contributed decisively to a successful completion of the mandate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the emergence of democratic institutions in post socialist Serbia and Croatia. Strategies in facilitating political transition; Determination of a country's prospects for democracy; Democratic preconditions.

Reports on developments in Croatia's post-communist transition. End of the Croat-Serb war; Changes in the diplomatic position of key Western powers and their impact on Croatia's political and economic development; Dilemma faced by President Franjo Tudjman over imposing an authoritarian regime or making way for democracy.

Examines the impact of nationalist and extreme-Right ideologies on the process of state-building in Croatia from 1990 to 1996. Organizational forms and the ideology of extreme nationalism; Fascist aspects of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH); NDH as the political reference point for Croatian ultranationalism; Militarism and territorial expansion. INSET: Ultranationalist parties and groups in Croatia...

Analyzes Germany's demand that all members of the Maastricht Treaty recognize Croatia and Slovenia. Croatia's intention to respect minority rights; Hans Dietrich Genscher as former German foreign minister; Campaign in the German media in support of Croatia' independence; Negligence of preventive diplomacy by the international community.

Examines the rivalry between Germany and Italy in Croatia in 1942-43. Inclusion of Croatia in the Italian sphere of influence in the Balkans; Prominence of German officers; Italy's mistrust of German intentions.

This section offers news related to international peacekeeping operations. The United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously authorized the deployment of 8,750 troops for the UN Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia. A one-day Organization of African Unity commission meeting on preventing, managing and settling conflicts in Africa was convened on April 20, 1995. The North Atlantic Co-operation Council has continued to develop a shared understanding of conceptual aspects of peacekeeping.

The article focuses on the development of political science in Croatia. It describes the origins and development of political science as a social science discipline. It also analyzes the region's institutional development and comments on its other relevant activities. The author reveals the fundamental change in the state and in the political environment meant for Croatian political science. He also examines the challenges, problems and opportunities of democracy and independence following the 1990 fall of communism and collapse of Yugoslavia.

The article focuses on the popular culture of Croatian people, the curse of King Dimitar Zvonimir and its significance to the politically embattled country of Croatia. It elucidates the real cause of political disorganization in the country contrary to the belief of the people to the former king's malediction that Croats will never have a lord of their own language but would always be subordinate to foreign languages. It also justifies the real cause of King Zvonimir's death and the Catholic church's involvement behind the king's murder.

The article discusses the difference between totalitarianism and the authoritarian version of dictatorship in the Eastern and Central Europe. The author states that the fundamental feature of totalitarianism is its ability to limit any autonomous activity in any sphere of the society, while the dictatorial nature of democratic centralism shows that there are limitations in democracy and the suspension of certain freedoms. He describes the nature of the political system in Croatia to further explain the topic and suggests that it is the opposite of the old totalitarianism. He cites that democratic centralism was used by Croatia to provide instant legitimacy and to reduce democracy.

The article analyzes the underlying factors that contributed to the political and social transformation in Croatia following the downfall of the communist regime. It traces the events that transpired before the multiparty elections and discusses the contributing factors that led to the emergence of pluralism in the Croatian society. Moreover, it presents a comparison on several political and social models used by the newly established Croatian political groups and parties to initiate a political transformation. Furthermore, it analyzes the roles played by the middle class institutions during the country's political and social transition period.

The article focuses on the views of Branko Ancic of the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia on political and social views on Croatia. When asked about the relationship between Serbia and Croatia, Ancic said that the two countries have a better relationship. According to him, there is about 95% overlap between the languages of Serbia and Croatia. With regard to the issue of economics and religion, he mentioned that Croatia has a greater advantage over Serbia due to its coastline. Ancic also mentioned that he was only a teenager when Croatia became a state in 1992.

Details results of elections in 15 countries. Includes victory of Socialist Ricardo Lagos in presidential elections in Chile; Number of seats won by the Social Democratic Party of Croatia and the Croatian Social-Liberal Party; Triumph of the Labor Party of Dominica over the United Workers' Party in the 21-seat unicameral House of Assembly elections.

The article discusses the democratic breakthrough created by democratic parties in parliamentary and presidential elections in Croatia. The national-chauvinist HDZ founded by Franjo Tudjman lost control of Parliament and a coalition of six democratic parties dominated by the alliance of social democrats and social liberals holds almost two-thirds of the seats. The Social Democratic Party will be headed by new Prime Minister Ivica Racan. According to the author, it will raise hope for the demoralized opposition to Milosevic in Serbian and for the endangered Montenegrin experiment in multi-ethnic democracy if Democratic Croatia is successful.