Come See the Truth

Come See the Truth explains how socialist Yugoslavia became a hot spot for international tourism during the Cold War. Following the 1948 split with the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia boldly and dynamically exploited tourism for political ends, inviting foreigners to "come see the truth" to counter Soviet invectives. During the following years, a combination of pragmatism and innovation led to an open-door policy that was fundamental to the country's tourism strategy and that allowed Yugoslav citizens to freely travel abroad for both work and leisure.

Situating this history in the dual contexts of the Cold War and the history of tourism, Igor Tchoukarine traces efforts by politicians, federal and republican administrations, tourist organizations, and individuals to develop international tourism in Yugoslavia. He reveals how tourism was inseparable from geopolitics, allowing Tito's state to enjoy international prestige and political legitimacy on both domestic and international levels. Yet Come See the Truth also uncovers the pitfalls of Yugoslavia's tourism boom, which exacerbated economic difficulties and rivalries and came to an end during the country's early-1990s collapse and descent into nationalist fervor and violence.