The Role of Yugoslavia in the Liberation Struggle of Zimbabwe
Dissertationsprojekt von Mirko Savković
Betreuerin: Prof. Dr. Marie Janine Calic
This dissertation examines Socialist Yugoslavia’s political, diplomatic, and social engagement with the Zimbabwean liberation struggle during the 1960s and 1970s. It investigates how Yugoslav diplomats, party officials, and solidarity activists supported the liberation movements, facilitated education and development initiatives, and cultivated ties with the newly independent state. The project considers how these activities intersected with broader European responses to the Rhodesia/Zimbabwe crisis. Situating Yugoslavia within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement, the research highlights the country’s unique position as a socialist European state outside the Eastern Bloc. By tracing transnational networks of solidarity, political support and cultural exchange, the dissertation sheds light on alternative European approaches to decolonization, emphasizing the role of smaller, non-engaged states alongside global superpowers.