ŽIVOJIN ĐURIĆ MONUMENT 1954-2022.
Abstract
When Živojin Žika Đurić died on December 2, 2022 at the age of 68 after a long illness, his family, colleagues, friends and comrades felt that the previous period of the Institute for Political Studies, Belgrade, was over.
Živojin Đurić, or as it was often said, “our dear director Žika”, left an indelible mark on the work of the Institute for Political Studies. He was a respected member of our academic community, scientific adviser and director of the Institute for over three decades (1989-2022).
At first glance, Đurić’s contribution to the development of IPS was diverse. It is reflected in several different functional dimensions. All this resulted in the current picture of the Institute’s complex activity with about eighty employees and a numerous and strong scientific-research and general sector.
The initiative to create the “Zivojin Đurić Memorial” came about spontaneously and unanimously. Thanks to the helpfulness of the family, above all his wife Dana, photos from the private life of Đurić were made available to the Institute. Without those photographs, the biographical picture of Đurić’s personality and his attitude towards the Institute would not be sufficiently vivid.
The first part of the Memorial borders the Negotin Region, its Štubik, a gentle and beautiful village where he was born in February 1954, and then the nearby Negotin where Đurić spent his youthful days.
After this part, Đurić’s contribution to the development of modern Serbian political and legal history is considered, then the dynamics of development, scientific and media life of the Institute, memories and memories of colleagues and collaborators, followed by joint photos, and at the very end something from the family album.
For those who knew Živojin Đurić, the content of the Memorial will probably strengthen the existing opinion about his personality, while for those who did not know him, it will give many reasons to think about a time, a man and a scientific institution.
We are very grateful to the editor-in-chief Miloš Knežević and то all those who contributed to the Memorial seeing the light of day.
