The construction of the Yugoslav Kingdom

The dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy led to a complex process culminating in the formation of new states, including the first Yugoslavia. From at least 1917, numerous proposals and drafts circulated regarding the future structure of the state. The most intense debates on its constitutional organization took place in 1921, during the Constituent Assembly in Belgrade. Various parties and the government presented competing drafts, revealing differing visions of state and society. This chapter examines the discussions within the Constitutional Committee and situates them in the broader European context. The Yugoslav case reflected common themes and challenges seen in other constitutional debates of the time. A key issue throughout the Kingdom’s existence was how to unify profoundly diverse regions into a modern, resilient state. At the time, only two state models were widely recognized: the empire and the nation-state. With empires disintegrating and the nation-state proving difficult to implement in Yugoslavia, the majority of the Committee advocated for a centralized nation-state model, rather than drawing on imperial legacies. Although regional autonomy was seriously debated, it remained a point of deep contention. Unlike other constitutional matters where compromises were reached, this issue resisted resolution.