KING ALEXANDER AND THE ROYAL DICTATORSHIP Context of the dictatorship Economic crisis: Economic the archaic nature

of central organisation in Belgrade could not cope with the swell in population and territory size following the First World War. Political chaos: Party system was already characterized by inefficiency and corruption; stagnation of parliamentary procedure following the election of Croat deputies in 1926 worsened this significantly. Radis assassination: Led to complete political deadlock and the urgent need for resolution January 6th dictatorship Primary goal of dictatorship = resolution of the national question. Abolition of Vidovdan constitution, prorogation of National Assembly, abolition of political parties and imposition of a strict ban on organizations or activities deemed remotely political or ethnocentric. The moment has arrived when there can, and should, be no intermediary between nation and King Alexander. Followed by the renaming of the country on October 3rd : Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The country was also divided into nine new banovine (administrative divisions) In what respect was the dictatorship initially welcomed? Serbia: generally favourable reception, perhaps owing largely to Alexanders association with the Serbian cause (his military legacy, for example) Croatia: relief at the end of an era of deadlock, and the abolition of Vidovdan. Trumbic: this was a necessary step. Macek and others believed it had the potential to further the Croatian cause after years of Serbian dominance Abroad: welcomed as marking the end of a period of political deadlock in Yugoslavia and the start of a tight-knit state. Why did it become unpopular? It became evident that it wasnt only temporary. For many Serbs, the indefinite suspension of liberal democratic principles was unacceptable. For Croats, it was a solidification of Serbian dominance; Alexander was too easily associated with the Serbian cause. The Kings suppression of peaceful means of vocalising dissent led only to increased resentment of Croat extremists, and to eventual violence. The suspension of the principle of ministerial responsibility meant the King was synonymous with entire regime and, crucially, with its shortcomings.

Notable elements of Alexanders upbringing His was an unexpected promotion to the throne. First, in the sense that at the time of his birth in 1888, the Karaorevi dynasty had not yet claimed the throne, and the Obrenovics hold on the throne remained seemingly secure. Second, even upon Petar Karaorevis accession to the throne in 1903, as the second eldest son Prince Alexander seemed destined for a military career, whilst his older brother Djordje was being prepared to succeed their father. It emerged not long into Petars reign, however, that Djordje was unfit to assume the crown as he was mentally unstable and suffered outbursts of violence (one of which famously culminated in the death of one of his servants who he had kicked in 1909). He was therefore made to renounce his rights of succession and Alexander, who had meanwhile been inducted into the Serbian army, returned in 1909 as his fathers new successor. Alexanders military career was extensive and indubitably influenced his outlook. As commander of the First Army, Alexander was instrumental in the First and Second Balkan wars. This military focus continued until his inheritance of the throne in 1921 upon the death of his father, and goes some way towards explaining his rather militaristic rather than civilian outlook. R.W Seton-Watson attributes some of the shortcomings of Alexanders later reign and certainly its disregard for democracy - to his childhood years: His father, King Petar, had bequeathed to him a firm belief in democratic and constitutional government, based on long residence in Switzerland and France and on the study of Stuart Mill and other Western thinkers. But fate decreed that the most impressionable years of the young Princes life should have been spent in Tsarist Russia rather than the West, and again that he should have spent six decisive years of early manhood with armies in the field, associating mainly with soldiers (The Background of the Yugoslav dictatorship, Slavonic Review, 10:29, Dec 1931, pp363-76)

M.Ryan 17.11.11