MILETIĆ’S SUPPORTERS ON THE WAY TO ESTABLISH THE PARTY 1860-1869

Abstract

The supporters and followers of the Miletić’s ideology sought to strengthen the preconditions for achieving national and democratic goals of the Serbian people in the Habsburg Monarchy within different youth, cultural-educational and national-political associations, institutions and organizations in the nine-year period of renewed political life (1860 - 1869). Versatile recognizing the achievements of European liberal movements, the Miletić’s followers managed to define the Serbian national politics in a progressive, liberal-democratic way, after the abolition of the absolutist regime, thus increasing the chances of a comprehensive social and spiritual rebirth of the people whom they represented. Fighting against the ruling doctrine of political inequality of citizens and nations in the broader area of Hungary, they failed to provide support and alliance of Hungarian and Croatian liberals, while their confrontation with the conservative-clerical representatives of the ecclesiastical hierarchy was intensified in the field of Serbian religious and educational autonomy. Nevertheless, they progressively influenced all the spheres of social life of Prečani Serbs, contributed to the establishment and activities of the United Serbian Youth, and finally, established a political party which goal was to represent the interests of all Serbs in Austria-Hungary.