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| (E) Sunic's interview in Pravda |
| By Nenad N. Bach |
Published
02/26/2002
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Published Articles
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Unrated
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(E) Sunic's interview in Pravda
I 1. i 2. svj. rat bili su imperijalisticki ratovi, ratovi koje su vodili
veliki imperiji: Velika Britanija, Francuska, Njemacka, Austro-Ugarska,
Rusija, SAD (predsjednicki kandidat Pat Buchanan kaze kako je i SAD
iperijalisticka drzava, ali tek nakon sto je okupirao Filipine, 1900.), dok
je Srbija bila na putu da postane mini-imperij. Nacionalizam je nesto drugo,
grobar imperijalnih sila, patriotizam. Mnogi autori tvrde, da je
nacionalizam pretpostavka i preduvjet za demokraciju.
rudolf arapovic
Sunic's interview.
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/02/25/26639.html
2002-02-25
"DUE TO ITS VIOLENT TRANSPARENCY, POOR ECONOMIC RESULTS, AND NEGATIVE
SOCIAL-BIOLOGICAL SELECTION, ALONG WITH THE NAMELESS TOPOGRAPHY OF TERROR,
COMMUNISM LOST ITS INTELLECTUAL APPEAL. BY CONTRAST, MODERN CAPITALISM,
WHICH OPERATES TODAY UNDER THE TERM OF "GLOBALISM," IS MORE SUCCESSFUL IN
PROMOTING THE SAME TOTALITARIAN GOALS, ALBEIT WITH DIFFERENT RHETORIC. IT
IS UTOPIA ACHIEVED. MANY FAILED COMMUNIST PRACTICES ARE NOW FULLY
OPERATIONAL, ALBEIT UNDER DIFFERENT LABELS IN THE EU AND USA."
Greetings from Russia Mr. Sunic! We at PRAVDA.Ru are very pleased that you
have agreed to become one of our columnists. As a Croatian diplomat, you
are able to share with our readers valuable commentary on today's Croatia.
We feel that by conducting this interview, our readers will come away with
a better understanding of who you are and your basic political stances.
Please tell our readers a little about yourself. What experiences have you
had that have shaped your outlook on politics and life in general? When did
you first become interested in politics? Also, please tell us something
about your diplomatic career.
Politics was part of family life. My father, a Catholic attorney and a
former political prisoner, was constantly at loggerheads with the Yugoslav
communist authorities. Back in communist Yugoslavia, I expressed my
resentments against the mendacity of the system by dropping out and
becoming a hippy and even hiking down to India. Being reared on books in
several languages helped me to complete my university degrees and put
myself into a wider perspective. I like to speculate as to how my
interlocutor or enemy perceives me. This requires a great deal of
intellectual effort and emotional detachment. After the breakup of
Yugoslavia, I was called by Tudjman's government to do some diplomatic l
obbying for Croatia.
What is your position on the Croat-Serb war? At one point, it was reported
that Serbia and Croatia had actually reached a compromise that would have
stopped the war, but Croatia was pressured by the West to form an alliance
with the Bosnian Muslims and to fight against the Serbs. Is there any truth
to this? In your opinion, did outside powers benefit from the civil war?
I must have heard a myriad of rumors and conspiracy theories regarding the
breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. I do not blame so much the Serbs as I do the
decade-long EU and USA upholding of the frail legality of the multiethnic
brew called Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was the product of Versailles architects
in 1919 with a refill of the allied blessing in 1945 in Potsdam. Slobodan
Milosevic strictly knew that; notably while trying to salvage Yugoslavia by
force, which actually sped up its forceful demise. Hence, the real reason
he is paying a hefty price now in the Hague.
It is known that many Croatian communists became nationalists after
Croatia's succession from Yugoslavia. Were these conversions genuine, or
were these politicians merely opportunists?
The latter is true. However, almost all former Croatian communists are now
ultra-liberal free marketers. This is a trademark not just of Croatia but
of all post-communist countries, including Russia. What is worrisome,
however, is not so much the make-believe volume of civic and democratic
parlance of the new political class; rather, it is the shiftiness and
phenomenal feel-good lightness by which it betrayed its former Marxist
mythology. If some other political myth holds sway tomorrow, the same
people will flock to new secular deities with no feelings of guilt.
While Serbia has traditionally had close ties with Russia, Croats seem to
identify more with Western European nations, such as Germany. In fact, it
has been reported that many volunteers from Western nations came to Croatia
to participate in the civil war. It was also reported that many Russians
and other Slavs participated on the side of Serbia. Do you have any
knowledge of this being the case? If so, to what extent did foreign
volunteers participate in the civil war?
Over 2000 foreign volunteers from Chile to Canada, from the USA to
Australia, and served at some point in early Croatian rag-tag units during
the so-called Homeland War. This was partly due to cultural affinities and
partly to the strong anticommunist feelings of many. The Serb-dominated
Yugoslav army displayed the communist red star insignia until 1995, which
invariably boosted the early Croatian separatist cause among European and
US conservatives. The unfortunate religious cleavage between the Orthodox
East and Catholic West violently erupted to the fore. Many Western
volunteers and many Croat expatriates came to fight. I cannot be more
specific at this stage.
What is your opinion of Ante Pavelic, the Croatian leader during WW2? It
has been claimed that the Ustashe government committed many atrocities
against Serbs, Jews, and other non-Croats. How much of this is propaganda
and how much is true?
The English historian Edward Carr wrote that, before one studies history,
one must study a historian. Failure to look at different, i.e., revisionist
historical accounts, leads to misperceptions, paranoia, and, eventually,
armed conflicts. The former Yugoslav propaganda had committed a mistake by
hyper-inflating Croatian fascist crimes of WWII. Tudjman in 1990, dared to
demolish this antifascist victimology. His public speeches, given the
widespread foreign media prone "historical linkages," soon earned him a bad
reputation among liberal pressure groups, both in the USA and Europe.
Moreover, his speeches were a big enough reason to alter the mindset of the
local, largely rural, Serbs in Croatia, who were already whipped into a
frenzy by Milosevic's communist propaganda. The spiral of fear and
misperception, backed by mythical and histrionic narratives on both sides,
resulted in war in 1991.
As for Ante Pavelic, the leader of WWII Croatia, his role must be put into
his epoch, i.e., along with the Romanian, Corneliu Codreanu, the Fleming,
Staf De Clercq, the Englishman, Oswald Mosley, the Russian-American,
Anastase Vonsiatsky, the Spaniard, Franco, etc., and other real or would-be
fascist leaders.
During my visit to Croatia, I came away with the impression that many
Croats cheered when NATO launched its military campaign against Serbia. In
your opinion, do ordinary Croats still hold such hostile feelings towards
Serbia?
Unfortunately, this is largely true. Many Croats, even in academic circles,
use this type of "negative legitimization." Serbs are often used as
scapegoats for Croatia's own failures, be it in the field of diplomacy or
economy. However, centralistic-minded Serbs have traditionally nourished a
cult of a "chosen people" destined to play a leading role in policing the
Balkans. Hence, the reason that they alienated other non-Serb peoples. The
end result was war.
>From the Berlin Congress in 1878 until 1991, Serbs were the darlings of the
anti-German Western powers. I think that, eventually, these two similar
peoples will be on speaking terms. Croats must realize that Serbs will
remain their first neighbors. However, from a wider anthropological
perspective, it is worth alerting the political class in the EU and USA
that multicultural, let alone multiracial states, never last long. Such
ideas are uncontrolled and irresponsible Third-world immigration, the
American government, and the EU are paving the way for their own
balkanization. The case of multiethnic ex-Yugoslavia speaks volumes.
The current Croatian government has indicated that it would like to join
both the EU and NATO. If Croatia is accepted into either of these
organizations, what changes do you think might take place in Croatia? In
your view, would these changes be positive or negative?
There are no "yes's," "no's," or "ifs." Joining the EU and NATO is the only
option for Croatia, short of becoming a pariah state. The only problems are
the Croatian methods. The Croatian political class does not know the
linkages, the possible setbacks, the terms of juridical engagements, etc.
Croatia does not have civil society, as it was destroyed after WWII by the
Yugoslav leader Tito and his communist followers, who were very largely
made up of the semi-rural, bewildered populace. The Croatian public does
not fully know the underpinnings of the EU or NATO. It envisions entry into
these two supra-national bodies as entry into a self-serving rich men's
country club. What Croatia needs first is total de-communization. Without
this, Croatia will constantly be plagued by a traumatic lack of
decision-making. At this stage, Croatia, similar to the Russian political
class, is engaged in broken English mimicry of all things Western.
You are known as a very outspoken anticommunist. Please explain the reasons
for your opposition to communism? In addition, you have said that Croatia's
current, main threats are the "Western" ideals of capitalism and
consumerism. If you consider yourself to be an anticommunist as well as an
anticapitalist, what political system would you like to see take shape in
Croatia, a sort of third-position?
There are different forms of anticommunism. However, being an anticommunist
does not presuppose that one must, therefore, embrace its only present
counterpart, i.e., global capitalism. Both systems have inherent principles
of egalitarianism, economism, and universalism, i.e., the belief in the
abstract ideology of "human rights" and the dogma of perpetual economic
growth. Due to its violent transparency, poor economic results, and
negative social-biological selection, along with the nameless topography of
terror, communism lost its intellectual appeal. By contrast, modern
capitalism, which operates today under the term of "globalism," is more
successful in promoting the same totalitarian goals, albeit with different
rhetoric. It is utopia achieved. Many failed communist practices are now
fully operational, albeit under different labels in the EU and USA. Former
paleo-communist political romanticism, such as multiculturalism,
multiracialism, academic self-censorship, intellectual opportunism, which
is known as political correctness, and the loss of the sense of the tragic,
is in full swing in the West. Moreover, unlike communism, modern
liberalism, i.e., global capitalism, does not leave visible traces of blood
and cohorts of martyrs in its wake. Its destructive longevity is
guaranteed.
You have also spoken out against blind nationalism, which, in your opinion,
was used to manipulate the peoples of the former Yugoslavia. However, you
have also indicated that you consider yourself to be pro-European. What are
your reasons for your opposition to nationalism? Do you consider yourself
to hold pan-European ideas?
In hindsight, inter-European nationalism has done irreparable harm to all
peoples of European extraction, starting with civil war in America in 1861
and then during the Great Civil War, WWI and WWII. Petty provincial
nationalism at the expense of next door similar looking European neighbors
is self- defeating. It serves the purpose of non-Europeans and other alien
phenotypes. Even in terms of territorial imperative, petty nationalism is
today outdated. The only solution lies in supra-statal pockets of cultural
resistance by the Europeans in the USA, Chile, South Africa, Europe, all
the way to Russia, i.e., in places where remnants of the European peoples
still live. Failure to clearly define the enemy today may lead in the very
near future to the definite demise of European heritage. Only in this
extraterritorial way one must define oneself today as a European and no
longer in a narrow autistic, chauvinistic, nation-state framework.
You have spent a portion of your life in the United States. From my
personal experience as an American living in Europe, I know that many
Europeans have a false sense of reality when it comes to life in the USA.
You, as a European who lived many years in the United States, have seen
firsthand the difference between what is presented the movies and media
that Europeans watch and the reality of the everyday American. Please share
for our readers your thoughts on the subject. Also, please tell us
something about Croatian-Americans. Are many of these immigrants
politically active?
The problem with all Eastern Europeans, including Croats, is an identity
crisis and a deep inferiority complex. The lack of self- assertiveness,
which is due to perpetual historical tremors in this region, often results
in surreal and self-complacent political romanticism. Most Croats have
inherited strong residues of the homo sovieticus mendacity combined with
the Melrose Place soap opera dream world. Croat expatriates did play a
significant role in financing Tudjman's campaign. However, they also live
in their own dream worlds, romanticizing Croatia in folkoristique lime
lights. There is also a fundamental psychological gap between Croats in
Croatia and Croat expatriates. It is this vicarious misperception of two
virtual worlds, respectively, that leads to the breakdown in communication.
As far as the new post-Tudjman, left-leaning government in Croatia is
concerned, it has shoved aside the Croatian expatriates.
I would like for you to give our readers an assessment of the current
Croatian government. Can you make a prediction regarding the next
elections? If the presidential election were held today, in your opinion,
who would win?
The cumulative votes of opposition right-wing parties today could easily
dislodge the current left-leaning government in a would-be election. Due to
their constant bickering and clannish approach to body politics, this is
hardly going to be the case. Although a small nation of 4 million citizens,
Croatia has phenomenal regional differences between north and south and the
Mediterranean Croats, who often make their electoral choices on the basis
of their regional in-group decisions. Almost the same replica exists among
expatriate Croats, unlike the Flemish, Irish, or Palestinian nationalists,
who all have a solid supra-regional political platform. This endless
infighting does not make Croatia a serious partner in the eyes of Western
observers. It was only during Tudjman's leadership, a man with deep insight
into Croatian diversity, that Croatia managed to become an independent
state. The actual coalition government, which is made up of five
left-leaning parties, has brought the country to administrative standstill.
Croatia functions today by EU
How is late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman remembered in Croatia? Many
in the West consider him to be a war criminal that should have been tried
in the Hague. However, during the war, Tudjman received the West's
backing and seemed to know how to "play ball" with the Western powers. Is
he remembered as the father of independent Croatia or has his reputation
suffered as a result of criticism from the West?
Tudjman's Croatia did not receive any backing from the West, not until
1995. The emergence of Croatia was primarily the result of nameless
volunteers, committed individuals with strong will to power. Prior to 1995,
Croatia was subject to an arms embargo, just like the heavily armed rump
Yugoslavia, i.e., Serbia. It had to build its administration and army from
scratch. It was a moment that briefly united all Croats of different
political persuasions. The EU never liked Tudjman. He was a former
communist turned a staunch revisionist and anticommunist, a large enough
reason for the Western opinion makers to isolate Croatia. The so-called
international community is now firmly behind the more docile left-leaning
government in Croatia.
Speaking of the Hague, how is the issue of the extradition of Croatian war
veterans treated by the Croatian press? How does the common Croat feel
about the issue? On one hand, it seems that Croatia and Serbia are in the
same boat. Both nations are being asked to send people some feel are war
heroes to be judged by a foreign court in a foreign land.
Even heroes do not last long. Again, Croat soldiers, due to the pressure of
various international bodies, are often portrayed as a bunch of criminals.
The Hague judiciary looks for "legal equidistance" between the Yugoslav
aggressor and the Croat victims. Average Croats are bedazzled and
bewildered. Whose gods should they trust today?
Yet, I do not blame the Hague or the international community for their
half-baked legal practices. Being a disciple of sociologist Vilfredo Pareto
and the jurist Carl Schmitt, I blame the lack of leadership in Croatia, the
lack of the new elites, and the lack of a meritocracy able to outsmart the
often ignorant New World Order architects. Playing meek and hollering "mea
culpa" won't help. Pareto wrote,"Whoever becomes a sheep will find a wolf
to eat him." This is the case with the Croatian administration staffed by
former communists with no initiative, many of whom have a murky past.
In your opinion, should the Croatian government do anything to help the
Bosnian Croats? It seems that they are in a rather difficult position, as
their most popular politicians and political parties have been banned. It
is quite clear that they feel as if they are not properly represented in
the Bosnian government and that they would like to form an independent
Croat state. Is there any chance that, in the future, the Bosnian Croatians
could be annexed by Croatia?
Playing dumb in politics is often a virtue, but living under the cover of
delusions may be dangerous. Bosnia and Hercegovina form a small and belated
replica of the failed multiethnic Yugoslavia. It can be upheld on the map,
as it currently is, only by foreign, including US, troops and half-ignorant
EU commissars. We must remember how former multiethnic Yugoslavia ended its
voyage into the darkness. I have spoken with some foreign leaders and
members of the media. They are aware of this make-believe country, but they
must rhetorically abide by the new "multicultural role models."
Croats and Serbs in Bosnia do not have the problem of deciding who to join
in the putative future. By contrast, if Bosnian Muslims do not make their
own executive decision about their identity, somebody else soon will in
their stead.
Mr. Sunic, please tell us about your latest book, Against Democracy and
Equality. What are the basic ideas of this book? What was your motivation
for writing it?
This book is a survey of some prominent figures of the so-called
conservative revolution of the first part of the XX century, such as the
sociologist Vilfredo Pareto, the political scientist Carl Schmitt, the
historian Oswald Spengler, and many others. The book also covers their new
intellectual followers in today's European New Right. I am appalled by the
dogmatic spirit and bias in the American and EU higher education, which has
for decades been subject to leftist brainwashing and to fraudulent
Freudo-Marxian scholasticism. I am also shocked by the false meritocracy in
the American establishment and by the ridiculous affirmative action system,
which definitely reminds me of the quota system in hiring that was in place
in the ex-communist multiethnic Yugoslavia. The best and the brightest are,
as a rule, shoved aside. The modern liberal theology of the big buck, the
dictatorship of well-being, coupled with the false misnomer of
"multiculturalism," destroys all values and all cultures, including our
own. I do not blame non-Europeans, and I reject conspiracy theories. I
primarily hold responsible lazy and corrupted academics, the modern media,
and politicians who are mortgaging the Euro-American future. However, most
likely, we need more chaos in our polity, because only out of chaos new
elites and a new value system can emerge.
Dr. Sunic, thank you very much for the interview! It was very informative
and we at PRAVDA.Ru look forward to our further cooperation.
QUESTIONS COMPILED BY JUSTIN COWGILL
The author is a writer and former political science professor in the USA.
He is also a Croatian diplomat. Mr. Sunic writes from Europe. His website
can be found at http://www.watermark.hu/doctorsunic/
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