MEMORIAL TO ZIVOJIN ĐURIĆ 1954-2022.

Živojin Đurić, or as he was often called “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 advisor and director of the Institute for over three decades (1989-2022). Đurić’s contribution to the development of the IPS was already diverse at first glance. It was reflected in several different functional dimensions. All of this resulted in the current picture of the complex activities of the Institute with around eighty employees and a numerous and strong scientific research and general sector.

The initiative to create the “Živojin Đurić Memorial” arose spontaneously and unanimously. Thanks to the generosity of his family, especially his wife Dana, photographs from Đurić’s private life were made available to the Institute. Without these photographs, the biographical picture of Đurić's personality and his relationship to the Institute would not be sufficiently clear. The first part of the Memorial covers the Negotinska Krajina, his Štubik, a tame and beautiful village where he was born in February 1954, and then the nearby Negotin where Đurić spent his youth. After this part, Đurić's contribution to the development of modern Serbian political and legal history is discussed, followed by the dynamics of development, the scientific and media life of the Institute, the memories and recollections of colleagues and associates, accompanied by joint photographs, and at the very end, something from the family album. For those who knew Živojin Đurić, the contents of the Memorial will probably strengthen their 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 extend our great gratitude to the editor-in-chief Miloš Knežević and to everyone who contributed to the publication of the Memorial.