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DEMOCRACY, RELIGION AND THE FUTURE OF SERBSAn address to the International Advisory Board of the Serbian Unity Congress Pittsburgh, PA, September 26, 1997 by Professor Samuel J. Mikolaski, President Serbian Unity Congress Chapter, San Diego Area I "WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE CAST OFF RESTRAINT" Proverbs 29:18 1.1 Can the Balkans escape tyranny? Can Serbs again become the guardians of liberty? Can democratic embers, long smoldering among Serbs, be fanned into a flame which will burn away misreadings of economics by the tyranny of statism, the misreading of human nature by the secularists, and their attendant corruptions? In short, can Serbs become missionaries for moral and spiritual renewal, democracy and a fluid market economy which reflects the vibrancy and compassion of entrepreneurially minded humble folk? 1.2 This will require: First, a deeply rooted refusal to compromise with tyranny. Second, an economic view which embraces a positive non- interventionist philosophy in order to defend the basic economic skills of the people against political ideologues. Third, restoration of hope among a people who are morally and spiritually enervated by a half-century of Communist fatalism and corruption. Fourth, renewal of traditional Christianity which among Serbs has become cultural religion, to the vibrancy of personal commitment to the confessionally orthodox, incarnationist, Trinitarian Christian faith. This faith presently is re-shaping politics in the West. Christian religious renewal in America has become a vital component of social, moral and political renewal. Such renewal can, as it has in the past, generate a committed, morally controlled instinct for democracy and social justice which will produce new generations of entrepreneurs, in contrast to the Mafia banditry and a-moral bureaucratic greed which characterize societies in eastern Europe today. 1.3 The failures of the twentieth century statist economies, along with their intellectual underpinnings, have become legendary. The most visible sign has been the collapse of the Soviet Union along with its industrial disasters, but the more deeply felt failure has been the almost starvation- level of life to which people have been brought in eastern Europe, the immense price marriages, children and orphans have paid and, most of all, the sapping of the spirit and will of peoples who see no hope for the future and who are being herded hither and thither, unpersuaded, into yet new political unions. 1.4 Rejection of Marxism's metaphysical and economic determinism in the post World War II period has been significant, not only by the long- suffering people of Communist dominated countries, but also by Marxist theorists themselves. No longer is freedom deemed to be an illusion and eschatology a myth. The failed modern attempt to blend economic and historical determinism with an earthly kingdom ideal has forced Marxist philosophers such as Ernst Bloch to adopt a more open, possibility-oriented view of history. Bloch's new, utopian vision celebrates the creative possibilities of the human spirit: the anticipation of things that might be, which creative thought, even vision and dreaming, can conjure up. Having rejected historical and economic determinism, Bloch now argues for openness to change and to the future. 1.5 Is there any reason to think that present Marxist revisionists have gotten things any more right than they did before? Christians argue that consistent with the understanding of the world's being the product of the divine creative act, God is not detached from it. He providentially cares for the world. History, as Augustine argued, is linear and exhibits the purposes of God who is personal, and of the persons he has created in his own image. Christians have a message for today which is more than culture and tradition and which transcends central European despair (Weltangst). Emil Fackenheim, the Jewish philosopher, has said (in relation to Jewish despair over the Holocaust) that the Hebrew prophets convey the message of hope as divine command. Israel in the Old Testament is commanded by God not to despair but to live in hope. Fackenheim adds that the tensions between particularity and universality in the Hebrew Bible, along with alienation and return, extend the paradigm of God's dealings to humanity in general beyond Israel. The central message of the biblical prophets is 'God will do it.' Modern secular utopians have wrongly said 'We will do it.' The Christian is forbidden to despair of God. II LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN LIKE WATERS, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE AN EVER-FLOWING STREAM Amos 5:24 2.1 Three elements are crucial to the re-establishment of an open, democratic society by Serbs: 2.2 First, there can be no patronizing of or compromise with Communism or with derivative statist political and economic models. There is no moral equivalency between Communism (or its new Socialism cloak) and Democracy as some American intellectuals who were influenced by Martin Heidegger said during the Cold War. There always has been, and there continues to be a moral difference between the two ideologies. The social, economic and cultural superiority of democracy and an open economy is attested to even within those statist economies which today are showing signs of prosperity. But the superiority of democratic and open market systems is morally and spiritually, not merely economically, based. 2.3 Second, Serbs must insist upon the dissemination of a world view in which change is market driven, which unlocks the potential of the humble entrepreneur. The key to rapid growth which most quickly raises the standard of living nation-wide is the small thriving landholder and the small thriving businessman or tradesperson. A vital maxim therefore is: open up the economy to individual initiative. Let not the battle over top-level leadership obscure the importance of acting upon this maxim as important as the election of top leadership is. Let us move on a two-track path. This should be a conscious decision taken as part of a strategy which instinctively moves the country from centralized control to true democracy. Let us work for transition to democracy which is consciously economically non-interventionist and which instinctively protects individual economic activity against politics and a stultifying bureaucracy. Not only must old hierarchies give way; one must ensure that new hierarchies and new tyrannies do not inhibit the initiative of risk-takers. Open up the economy to individual initiative. That milieu will throw up its own leadership in due course; leadership whose outlook is congruent with the deeply held moral and political principles of a democratic society. I believe that, in the present historical situation, starting at the bottom as well as at the top holds more promise for success of the democratic revolution we seek. We cannot wait to fix the bottom (the level of the humble folk) until after we first fix the top (the selection of the elite). 2.4 Third, inculcate the principles of an ancient, but now deemed to be new, civic culture. It is new because it entails the necessity of an urban coalition which nevertheless will be respectful of the traditional Balkan village heritage. It is also new because of the modern global inter- connectedness. Individual entrepreneurial activity more readily acknowledges such realities than does a statist bureaucracy. This calls for a new sense of citizenship, civic duty, and community involvement. The Stoics represented this as the cosmopolitan ideal. The Stoic vision was the polites kosmou, the citizen of the world. No social compact in the Balkans can succeed unless it is cosmopolitan. Serbs must nationalize this abstract ideal, even though in the past they paid the highest price in their dedication to achieve it. 2.5 Such a contemporary civic culture would strive to re-kindle in the hearts and souls of Serbs moral virtues such as that there is no substitute for doing the right thing, i.e., not only that which does not break the law but which pleases God, and would seek to re-instill hope, dignity and civility in modern youth. Limiting government, maximizing personal freedom, insisting upon personal responsibility for oneself and for one's own, diligence, seeing entrepreneurship as profit-oriented enterprise which creates value and opportunity for others, and compassion for the truly needy. Such virtues have traditionally characterized periods of renewal and prosperity in which Christians have had significant roles. The Scriptures say, the plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance (Proverbs 21:5). 2.6 It is remarkable that in a series of comments on NATO and Europe which were solicited by the Wall Street Journal and published on July 8, 1997 (from the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovenia, Belarus, Hungary, the Slovak Republic) most of the Presidents or Prime Ministers of those countries plead for stability (meaning protection of the status quo by the USA). Only Gyula Horn of Hungary, Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic and Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria referred to freedom and democracy, and only Horn emphasized the dynamic, forward-looking values of rule of law, democracy, pluralism, a market economy, and human rights. 2.7 Incentive-oriented planning by individuals and local enterprise are vastly more efficient than the planning of centralized bureaucracies. Enterprise accommodates a better use of human resources that fosters human development, creativity and fulfillment. The greatest waste is the waste of human resources and God-given potential. 2.8 For the Christian entrepreneur as for others, life is filled with moral choices. These include commitment to justice, fairness, honesty and kindness. A crucial issue becomes that of priorities. Does the drive to succeed solely concern acquisition of property, making a great deal of money, or controlling a business empire? Or does the Christian entrepreneur see business as his or her contribution to the well-being of society alongside his or her loving commitment to marriage, family, friends, and the ongoing work of the kingdom of God? 2.9 In the present situation Serbs must strenuously resist the labeling of their heritage as intolerant nationalism. There is a distinction to be drawn between nationalism and patriotism. Americans may be justly proud patriots. So may Serbs. But America has become uncertain - even ambivalent - about its missionary role as a democratic nation. Can Serbs again be patriots and Christians and advocates of a democratic society where freedom reigns? Christian faith must not remain at the cultural periphery of this patriotism. It must again become the spiritual core of national greatness which fosters civic virtues such as understanding, respect and acceptance as the hallmarks of a plural society governed equitably under law. III "COME OVER TO MACEDONIA AND HELP US" Acts 16:9 3.1 Allow me to use this text in relation to the present Serb and Yugoslavia issues. Biblical scholars have long pondered the significance of the divine guidance which turned Paul away from Asia to the Balkans. Is the call being repeated to us today? Can we, as Paul did, engage in a renewing missionary task? 3.2 I speak today about the necessity of a new missionary thrust. American democracy is failing with respect to the propagation of democratic ideals and the principles of a market economy, and Serbs are failing in regard to the dominically mandated mission to re-evangelize their own people. Both are missionary tasks and in the present situation in the lands of the former Yugoslavia they are interlocking tasks. Recent studies of European and American societies are focusing upon religion (notably Christian principles) as a key component in social, political and economic renewal of the modern democratic revolution. 3.3 We cannot escape the reality that a great deal of the hatred and genocide in what was Yugoslavia is religiously based. I believe that a strong case can be made historically that Serbs have been the more decent and benign in relation to minority and diverse religious populations among them. Certainly, unlike the Croat Ustasha and Franjo Tudjman's Wastelands of Historical Reality and the reactionary tenets of Alija Izetbegovic's Islamic Declaration, the Serbian Christian heritage and Serbian Orthodox leadership have urged respect for the dignity of human life. 3.4 In light of recent history, Serbs have every reason to distrust the Vatican and Islam, despite the well-earned reputation of Pope John Paul II with regard to his skilled strategies against Communism in Poland. But the Vatican has refused to confront the scandal of the Yugoslav Holocaust, the genocide against Serbs in Croatia during World War II, in which Roman Catholic authorities were complicit. I believe that it is time for American Roman Catholic bishops and American Jewish leaders to call for a day of mourning, apology and reconciliation in regard to that genocide. This would open the gate to mitigating current hatreds and present opportunity to re-educate the people of the several ethnic groups in principles of peace and respect, as Patriarch Pavle has urged. 3.5 The missionary task before us is large and very urgent. It must be engaged with great understanding, due diligence, and intense earnestness by both church leaders and dedicated laity. 3.6 It is time for the centuries-old Christian heritage of Serbs to re-assert itself. It is time for Serbian laymen and women, along with clergy, to re-dedicate themselves to mission. Character and civic virtue are the fundamental issues. We ought to re-activate the apostolic mandate to the ancient world - indeed, the mandate of the Serbian saint, Sava, after whom I am named - to re-evangelize our people from village to village, city to city. This will entail: 3.7 First, an earnest call to faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnate, Savior and Lord. 3.8 Second, a heartfelt plea for renewal of faith among those who already acknowledge themselves to be Christians. 3.9 Third, a call to penitence that God will forgive us for our wrongs and deliver our people from strife, enmity and any vestige of intolerance or cruelty. 3.10 Fourth, a practical and comprehensive teaching program which in a new way will teach our people the content of the Holy Scriptures, the principles of Christian character, the values of Christian discipleship, and the meaning of our historic Christian heritage. 3.11 Fifth, inculcation of a sense of vocation, of which hope is the key- feature: that it is part of our God-given vocation as creatures made in the image of God, as well as our civic and patriotic duty, to maximize human freedom and opportunity. Responsibility, vocation, patriotism, vision belong together. These are as much spiritual as they are social and economic issues. 3.12 Sixth, renewal of the true meaning of love and its joy, the ideal of faithful marriage, motherhood, fatherhood and the nurture and education of children as the divinely-ordained well from which to draw the water of life which nourishes a stable, values-oriented society.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Some recent sources which bear on the topics discussed above. Arranged chronologically. P. T. Bauer, Reality and Rhetoric: Studies in Economic Development. London: Wiedenfeld and Nicolson, 1984 Nora Beloff, Tito's Yugoslavia Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1985 F. A. Hayek, The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (ed. W. W. Bartley III), London: Routledge, 1992 (1988) Alex N. Dragnich, Serbs and Croats, New York: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1992 Misha Glenny, The Fall of Yugoslavia (revised and updated), London: Penguin Books, 1993 Jonathan Clarke and James Clad, After the Crusade: American Foreign Policy for the post--Superpower Age, Landham, MD: Madison Books, 1995 Robert W. Fogel, "The Fourth Awakening and the Political Re-alignment of the 1990s", An address to the American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC, April 27, 1995. Laura Silber and Allan Little, The Death of Yugosalvia London: Penguin Books, 1995 Susan L. Woodward, Balkan Tragedy: Chaos and Dissolution After the Cold War, Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 1995 Michael Ledeen, Freedom Betrayed, Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute Press, 1996 Tim Judah, The Serbs. History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia, New Haven: CT: Yale University Press, 1997 Gojko Vuckovic, Ethnic Cleavages and Conflict: The Sources of National Cohesion and Disintegration, Brookfield, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company, 1997 "Safeguarding Democracy," Wall Street Journal , editorial page, July 8, 1997.
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