League of Socialist Youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the midst the partisan resistance struggle, in December 1941 the Young Communist League of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) took the initiative to start building the Popular Liberation Youth League of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Narodnooslobodilačkog saveza omladine Bosne i Hercegovine, abbreviated NOSOBiH), as a mass organization to seeking to unite Muslim, Croat and Serb youth to fight the Axis occupation.MILENKO GAŠITh. HRONOLOGIJA NARODNOOSLOBODILAČKE BORBE NA PODRUČJU KOZARE 1941 — 1945. NOSOBiH was founded in early 1942, and towards the end of 1942 NOSOBiH became integrated into the United Antifascist Youth League of Yugoslavia (USAOJ).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=elqqAAAAIAAJ|title=I zvijezde smo dosezali: Revolucionarni omladinski pokret srednje Bosne : 1941 – 1945|first=Nevenka|last=Petrić|date=August 28, 2004|publisher=Foto Futura|page=238|isbn=9788683691074}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y5mAAAAMAAJ|title=Glasnik arhivâ i Društva arhivskih radnika Bosne i Hercegovine|date=August 28, 1985|page=139}} On September 20, 1943 a USAO BiH Regional Conference for the Bosnian Krajina was held at which the USAO BiH Regional Board was elected.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=opsMAAAAIAAJ|title=Kozara: priroda, čovjek, istorija|first=Ljubo|last=Mihić|date=August 28, 1987|publisher=Dnevnik|page=745}} The 1st congress of the United Antifascist Youth League of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ujedinjenog saveza antifašističke omladine Bosne i Hercegovine, abbreviated USAOBiH) was held in Sarajevo May 5–9, 1945.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PjmOAAAAMAAJ|title=Istorija Saveza komunista Bosne i Hercegovine|date=August 28, 1990|publisher=Institut za istoriju u Sarajevu|page=39}} USAOBiH published Riječ as its organ.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KkaAAAAIAAJ|title=Ratno djetinjstvo: zbornik dokumenata i sjećanja o postanku, razvoju i radu saveza pionira u Bosni i Hercegovini|date=August 28, 1961|publisher=Svjetlost|page=16}}

After the war, USAOBiH transformed into the People's Youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Narodne omladine Bosne i Hercegovine, abbreviated NOBiH). The second congress of NOBiH was held in Sarajevo June 14–17, 1947, with 470 delegates in attendance.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JtAzAQAAIAAJ|title=Deset kongresa omladine BiH|first=Milorad|last=Muratović|date=August 28, 1982|publisher=Oslobođenje|pages=53, 373}} The third NOBiH congress was held in 1949, the fourth congress in 1954, the fifth congress in 1957 and the sixth congress in 1962.

NOBiH then transformed into the Youth League of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Savez omladine Bosne i Hercegovine, abbreviated SOBiH). A single congress, the seventh of the organization, was held during this period in 1968. SOBiH was the republican branch of the Youth League of Yugoslavia (SOJ).{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=El0dAQAAMAAJ|title=Statistički kalendar Jugoslavije|date=August 28, 1968|publisher=Savezni zavod za statistiku|page=215}} Branko Ekert was elected SOBiH chairman at the 20th plenum of the SOBiH Central Committee, held in October 1967. Arif Smajić was the secretary of the SOBiH Central Committee. The other members of the SOBiH Secretariat were Miomira Gerun, Rada Stanar, Mehmedalija Sarajlić, Mustafa Dulizarević and Ivo Cvitković.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dUg9AAAAMAAJ|title=Društveno-političke zajednice: Socijalističke republike i autonomme pokrajine|first=Nine|last=Opačić|date=August 28, 1968|publisher=Međunarodna štampa-Interpress|page=83}}

SOBiH then became the League of Socialist Youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SSOBiH). SSOBiH was the republican-level organization of the League of Socialist Youth of Yugoslavia (SSOJ).Alfredo Sasso. [https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/tesis/2015/hdl_10803_328422/as1de1.pdf ”Just a few years left for us”. non-nationalist political actors in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1989–1991)] SSOBiH was one of the constituent organizations of the Socialist League of Working People of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SSRNBiH).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPhoAAAAIAAJ|title=Forging War: The Media in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina|first=Mark|last=Thompson|date=August 28, 1999|publisher=University of Luton Press|page=245|isbn=9781860205521}}

SSOBiH held its eight congress in 1974, its ninth congress in 1978 and its tenth congress in 1982.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dasnAQAAIAAJ|title=Survey Sarajevo|date=August 28, 1982|publisher=University of Sarajevo|page=236}} The importance of youth volunteering was highlighted at the 1974 eight SSOBiH congress.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGoYAAAAMAAJ|title=Revolucionarni omladinski pokret u Bosni i Hercegovini|date=August 28, 1984|publisher=Republička konferencija SSO BiH|page=93}}

SSOBiH held its eleventh congress in 1986.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_DFmAAAAMAAJ|title=Glasnik arhivâ i Društva arhivskih radnika Bosne i Hercegovine|date=August 28, 1993|page=132}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n0QUAQAAIAAJ|title=Ilustrovana YU rock enciklopedija: 1960–2000|first=Petar|last=Janjatović|date=August 28, 2001|publisher=Autorsko izd.|page=155}} As of 1988 SSOBiH, along with other republican-level branches of SSOJ, became increasingly independent from the Yugoslav mother organization.

In 1989 Rasim Kadić became the president of SSOBiH. SSOBiH, under the leadership of Kadić, accompanied by Martin Raguž and Đorđe Latinović, became a hub of opposition to the party leadership. For example, in 1988 SSOBiH vetoed candidacy of {{ill|Mato Andrić|hr|Mato Andrić (političar)}} for the presidency of the republic, which led Andrić to withdraw his candidacy. The SSOBiH publication Naši dani would print criticisms of the government, moves that contributed to making it the foremost political newspaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a fortnightly circulation of up to 100,000 issues. Valter, another SSOBiH publication, was a widely read magazine at the time. SSOBiH also had a popular program on Radio Sarajevo. SSOBiH and the Association for the Yugoslav Democratic Initiative (UJDI) formed the Democratic Forum, which called for integrative non-ethnic citizenship for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In September 1989 SSOBiH openly criticized the role of the party leadership, using the label 'the Bosnian silence' (a term that instantly became controversial). The October 1980 Political Manifesto of SSOBiH called multiparty system, market economy and abolition of death penalty. However, the reformist line of Kadić was not universally supported within SSOBiH ranks. Opposition to the Sarajevo-based SSOBiH leadership was mobilized in Banja Luka, Bosnian Krajina and east Bosnia organizations of SSOBiH. Igor Radojičić emerged as the leader of the Serb-dominated opposition within SSOBiH.

At the time of the 10th congress of the League of Communists of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SKBiH), held in December 1989, SSOBiH and Kadić voiced support for the 'ZAVNOBiH Initiative', which called for multiparty pluralism.

Kadić renounced his party membership a week following the January 1990 14th Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. SSOBiH continued to function under Kadić's leadership, but separately from the SKBiH. The influence of SSOBiH was concentrated in main cities. SSOBiH called to postpone 1990 elections, advocating to await improved conditions for multiparty elections.

SSOBiH held its 12th congress April 19–20, 1990, with 367 delegates participating. The group around Kadić presented a document that called for a federal Yugoslavia, removing the word 'socialist' from the name of the republic, multiparty system, market economy and de-politicization of all state institutions. The document failed to win a majority of votes at the congress, obtaining 158 votes. Likewise the congress rejected breaking the links between SSOBiH and SSOJ. The name of the organization was changed to League of Socialist Youth – Democratic Alliance (Savez socijalističke omladine – Demokratski savez, abbreviated SSO-DS), a compromise solution as the proposed name 'Social Democratic Alliance' had been rejected by the congress majority.

On May 25, 1990 SKBiH mobilized a mass rally for Youth Day, calling for a united Bosnia and Herzegovina. SSO-DS boycotted the rally, in sharp contrast to Youth Day celebrations earlier years.

SSO-DS suffered a split, as there were discontents with Kadic's role. Ognjen Janković split away from SSO-DS, who actually separated from Kadić's party. In particular he was upset with Kadić participation at the founding congress of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rsIEa8QPhsC|title=Uzroci rata: Bosna i Hercegovina od 1980. do 1992. godine|first=Ivica|last=Lučić|date=August 28, 2013|publisher=Hrvatski Institut za povijest|page=478|isbn=9789537892067}} Janković's group took the name 'League of Socialist Youth-Centre Democratic Alliance', which got registered as a political party July 23, 1990 with Janković as its chairman.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wkMIAQAAMAAJ|title=Stranke u Jugoslaviji|first=Mladen|last=Arnautović|date=August 28, 1990|publisher=Novinska agencija Tanjug|page=38}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=edceAQAAMAAJ|title=NIN.: Nedeljne informativne novine|date=August 28, 1990|publisher=Politika|page=31}} {{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQwUAQAAMAAJ|title=JPRS Report: East Europe|date=August 28, 1990|publisher=Foreign Broadcast Information Service|page=23}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DLeNAAAAMAAJ|title=Political Directory on Bosnia and Herzegovina: (interim, Unofficial)|first=Oleksandr|last=Kramarevsʹkyĭ|date=August 28, 1996|publisher=Šahinpašić|page=125}}

For the November 1990 election SSO-DS launched the slogan "Our hands are clean". The organization produced a wide array of promotional products for its campaign – pens, badges, balloons, raincoats, paper bags and condoms.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=de62DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA204|title=Thirty Years of Political Campaigning in Central and Eastern Europe|first1=Otto|last1=Eibl|first2=Miloš|last2=Gregor|date=October 15, 2019|publisher=Springer Nature|page=204|isbn=9783030276935}} At the time SSO-DS still benefitted from state budget funding. SSO-DS had four candidates for the multi-member Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina; Nazif Gljiva (Bosniak 133,263 votes), Martin Raguž (Croat, 130,198 votes), Azemina Vuković (Other, 61,373 votes) and Đorđe Latinović (Serb, 222,728 votes).{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7g4UAQAAMAAJ|title=Daily Report: East Europe|date=August 28, 1990|publisher=The Service|page=56}} The average age of presidential candidates of SSO-DS was 35 years.

SSO-DS had candidates in all constituencies for the Council of Citizens.Damir Kapidžić. [https://damirkapidzic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/174490572E20152E1006975.pdf Democratic Transition and Electoral Design in Plural Societies: The Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina's 1990 Elections] The party contested in alliance with the Ecological Movement "Greens" (EKO).Nenad Stojanović. [http://www.nenadstojanovic.ch/images/Academic/Papers/stojanovic_2014_bh%20prisoners%20dilemma.pdf When non-nationalist voters support ethno-nationalist parties: the 1990 elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a prisoner’s dilemma game]{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EkTUhSTYbyQC&pg=PA153|title=De la Europa del Este al este de Europa|first=Carlos Flores|last=Juberías|date=November 28, 2011|publisher=Universitat de València|page=153|isbn=9788437086859}} SSO-DS obtained 30,505 votes (1.36%) The alliance elected two members of parliament, with SSO-DS and EKO winning one seat each – Kadić from Sarajevo and Dragica Stojanović from Tuzla.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JREUAQAAMAAJ|title=Daily Report: East Europe|date=August 28, 1990|publisher=The Service}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-4eKmp_qu_QC&pg=PA54|title=The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ethnic Conflict and International Intervention|first1=Steven L.|last1=Burg|first2=Paul S.|last2=Shoup|date=January 13, 1999|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|pages=53–54|isbn=9780765631893}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLKNAAAAMAAJ|title=Izbori u Bosni i Hercegovini '90: analiza izbornog procesa|first=Suad|last=Arnautović|date=August 28, 1996|publisher=Promocult|page=110}} Notably, Dražen Petrović, the number two candidate on the SSO-DS list in the Sarajevo constituency, had registered his ethnicity as 'Eskimo' – presumably as a protest of the requirement to register ethnic identity of political candidates.

In the election to the Council of Municipalities, SSO-DS had candidates in 14 municipalities In the Tuzla District, SSO-DS contested on a joint list with SK-SDP and DSS in the elections to the Council of Citizens and Council of Municipalities.

In local body elections, SSO-DS won 70 seats.

In mid-1991 SSO-DS changed name to the Liberal Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Liberalna stranka Bosne i Hercegovine, abbreviated LSBiH). By late 1991 LSBiH had switched to a pro-independence position. In May 2000 LSBiH merged with the Liberal Bosniak Organization (LBO) to form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDS).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d33MfEFXvW8C&pg=PA170|title=Political Handbook of the World 2012|first1=Tom|last1=Lansford|first2=Tom|last2=Muller|date=April 2, 2012|publisher=SAGE|page=170|isbn=9781608719952}}

{{reflist}}

{{Bosnian political parties}}

Category:Defunct political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Category:Political parties in Yugoslavia

Category:Youth wings of communist parties