The case of Serbia/Yugoslavia: an analysis through spiral dynamics

Yugoslavia and later Serbia have puzzled the world since the early 1990s. This article presents a study based on the principles of spiral dynamics that were used to analyze the transformation of South Africa. According to spiral dynamics, Yugoslavia under the joint influence of nationalists and retro-socialists regressed to the egocentric and exploitative level of psychosocial existence and, in spite of recent political changes, has maintained the same centre of gravity. Although its political structure has changed, nationalist and retro-socialist values remain dominant in the cultural domain and in the domain of self. Yugoslavia/Serbia desperately needs the new dynamic process of development. Priorities are the establishment of a hierarchy of authority, self-confrontation and development of widely based enthusiasm. These could lead Serbia to become responsible and mature.