Ivan Šusteršič and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes

Abstract

The text was first presented at a conference dedicated to Ivan Šusteršič that took place at the scientific research centre of the Slovenian academy of sciences and arts on december 1, 2005, which marked the 80th anniversary of Šusteršič’s death. It focuses on political activities of Šusteršič, a former leader of the slovene People’s Party (Slovenska ljudska stranka), who returned to slovene politics in april 1922 with the publication of a text titled My reply (Moj odgovor); this was his first appearance in slovene politics after the establishment of the Yugoslav state. Among other things, the author of this article establishes that at the beginning of the 1920s, Anton Korošec and Ivan Šusteršič, who were former rivals in the slovene People’s Party, were once again separated not by opposite opinions on key political issues; instead, their inability to co- operate was based on their different political tactics and visions on how Slovenes could attain the best position within the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. After having returned to Slovenia from abroad, Šusteršič was unable to successfully keep up with the changed political situation, and lost the 1923 election. On the other hand, it is possible to say that due to his absence from slovene politics during the establishment of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, and his subsequent lack of being overburdened with merits for this process, his political activities and beliefs represent a valuable contribution to our understanding of the first years of the Yugoslav state.