The Modus operandi of Serbian national propaganda through the example of André Barre’s book – Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austrian ruling from 1878 until 1903

  • Biljana Stojić Radović Institute of History Belgrade, Serbia
Keywords: André Barre, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Grgur Jakšić, propaganda

Abstract

In the paper we have researched the French publicist André Barre (1878–1952), focusing on his book Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austrian administration from 1878 until 1903, published in 1906 in Serbian and French at the same time. In our research, we focused on how Barre and Frenchmen comprehended social differences and the religious and national identity of the people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. A significant part of the paper is about the prehistory of the book’s creation, mainly focusing on the role of Grgur Jakšić and Serbian national propaganda. We reconstruct every step in the book’s creation, from collecting documents, translations, and systematization to publishing. This book is a rare but even more valuable example of how Serbian national propaganda operated. In this book and cooperation with André Barre, we see that not every collaboration with prominent Frenchmen was pleasant or long-lasting. A bitter outcome for both sides resulted from Barre’s greed and inexperienced Serbian diplomats and leaders, affecting the book’s overall influence on the public. Therefore, the last part of the paper is dedicated to researching the book’s reception in Serbian, European, and Austro-Hungarian public opinion. The research also examined the role of Austro-Hungarian propaganda in this case. We demonstrated that Austrian propaganda understood Barre’s real purpose and carefully watched every step of Serbian authorities. Barre’s book shows how Austro-Hungarians were deeply involved in the Serbian government system and, therefore, able to influence it. The conclusions presented in the paper are based on documents from the Archive of Grgur Jakšić kept in the National Library of Serbia, records from the State Archives of Serbia, and relevant historiography works and periodicals.

References

А. Barre dopisnik. (1904). DAS, MID-PP, 1904, 589.

A. Barre– G. Yakschitch. (1904, août, 1). NBS, AGJ, Р558/X/87.

A. Barre–M. Vesnich. (1905, mai, 8). DAS, MID-PP, 1906, 172.

Administracija „Vojske“-MID-u. (1906, jul, 15/28). DAS, MID-PP, 1906, 172.

André Barre–G. Yakschitch. (1903, octobre, 11). NBS, AGJ, Р558/X/84.

Bajin, Z. (2021). Spalajković: diplomata i kontrarevolucionar. Prometej, 2021.

Bar, A. (1906a). Bosna i Hercegovina. Austrijska uprava od 1878. do 1903. Vojska.

Bar, A. (1906b). Majska revolucija u Srbiji (Vol. 1). Novi Pokret.

Bar, A. (1907). Majska revolucija u Srbiji (Vol. 4). Novi Pokret.

Bar, A. (2003). Sveti Sava, slava i gusle. Verska agresija Austrije i rimske crkve i rimske crkve na pravoslavne u Bosni i Hercegovini od 1878. do 1903. Beli anđeo.

Barre, A. (1906a). La Bosnie Herzégovine Administration autrichienne de 1878 à 1903. Louis Michaud.

Barre, A. (1906b). La tragédie serbe. Louis Michaud.

Barre, A. (1908). La menace allemande. Louis Michaud.

Beleške. (1903, januar). Članci o srpskim prilikama. Srpski književni glasnik, 8(1), 238–240.

Bernajs, E. (2014). Propaganda. Ammonite.

DAS, MID-PP. (1908). 451.

Delo – list za nauku, književnost i društveni život. (1906a). Kritika i bibliografija. Knjiga 38. Štamparija Dositije Obradović, 415–416.

Delo – list za nauku, književnost i društveni život. (1906b). Kritika i bibliografija. Knjiga 40. Štamparija Dositije Obradović, 253–259.

Enciklopedija srpskog naroda. (2008). Zavod za udžbenike.

Episkop dalmatinski Nikodim Milaš–G.J. (1899, oktobar, 22/3. novembar, 3). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/285.

G. J.–N. Pašiću, (1904, mart, 2/15). DAS, MID-PP, 454.

G. Jakšić–Ljubomiru Davidoviću. (1904, jun, 16). NBS, ZMKRA, AGJ, Р558/IX/218. [pogrešno datiran dokument na 1896].

G.J.– Jovanu Tomiću. (1912, april, 10). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/554а.

G.J.–Bogdanu Popoviću. (1903, septembar, 14/27). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/367а.

G.J.–Ljubomiru Stojanoviću. (1905, oktobar, 3/16). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/431а.

G.J.–Svetislavu Simiću. (1904, septembar, 3/16). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/1563.

G.J.-Svetozaru Ćoroviću. (1896, septembar, 12/24). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/226а.

G.J-N.P. (1904, mart). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/383.

Glavni odbor za krunisanje kralja Petra. (1904). DAS, MID, beleška, 4/17. septembra 1904.

Grgur Jakšić–Nikoli Pašiću. (1904, mart). NBS, ZMKRA, AGJ, Р558/IX/383.

Izveštaji Pres-biroa. (1906, jul, 29/avgust, 11). DAS, MID-Presbiro.

Kolaković, A. (2016). U službi otadžbine. Saradnja francuskih i srpskih intelektualaca 1894–1914. Institut za političke studije.

La Question des Trois Nationalités en Hongrie. Compte rendu du meeting tenu le 14 juillet 1896, à la salle Wagram, à Paris, sous la présidence de M. Émile Flourens. (1896). Imprimerie de la Cour d’appel.

M. Vesnić–Jovanu Žujoviću. (1905, jun, 9/22). DAS, MID-PP, 1906, 172.

MID-Vesniću. (1907, decembar, 8/21). DAS, MID-PP, 1907, 245.

Milošević, B. (2023). Srpsko školstvo kao bedem identitetskom inženjeringu Benjamina Kalaja u Bosni i Hercegovini. Baština, 33(60), 313–327. https://doi.org/10.5937/bastina33-44428

NBS, AGJ. (1896, septembar, 24/oktobar, 6). Р558/IX/227.

NBS, AGJ. (s. a.). Р558/III/50.

NBS, AGJ. (s. a.). Р558/III/91.

Nova iskra – ilustrovani list. (1906). Državna štamparija Kraljevine Srbije.

Orlovitch, P. (1903). La Question de la Ville-Serbie. Hachette.

Otvoreno pismo Nj. V. Kralju Petru. (1903, jun, 30/jul, 12). Srpska zastava: organ liberala, List za politiku, privredu i književnost, 2.

Postanak knjige Andre Bara o Bosni i Hercegovini. (s. a.). NBS, AGJ, Р558/III/91.

Radenić, A. (Ed.). (2002). Dnevnik Benjamina Kalaja 1868–1875. Službeni glasnik.

Revue politique et litteraire, Revue Bleue. (1897, mai 22). № 21, 4 serie – tome VII, 642–647.

Sava Bjelanović–G.J. (1896, novembar, 10/22). NBS, AGJ, Р558/IX/230.

Spalaïkovitch, M–J. (1899). La Bosnie et l’Herzégovine: étude d’histoire diplomatique et de droit international. Arthur Rousseau.

Srpski biografski rečnik. (2004). Tom 1, A–B. Matica Srpska.

Srpski biografski rečnik. (2006). Tom 2, V–G. Matica Srpska.

Srpski biografski rečnik. (2007). Tom 3, D–Z. Matica Srpska.

Srpski biografski rečnik. (2009). Tom 4, I–Ka. Matica Srpska.

Srpski biografski rečnik. (2014). Tom 6, Mar–Miš. Matica Srpska.

Srpski biografski rečnik. (2018). Tom 7. Matica Srpska.

Stojić Radović, B. (2024). Uspomene Grgura Jakšića. Zbornik MS za istoriju [u štampi].

Stojić, B., & Kolaković, A. (2012). Grgur Jakšić i propagandna aktivnost Srbije u Francuskoj (1912–1913). Mešovita građa – Miscellanea, XXXIII, 413–432.

Svetislav Simić–N. Pašiću. (1905, maj, 2/15). DAS, MID-PP, 1906, 172.

Uspomene. (s. a.). NBS, AGJ, Р558/III/50.

Vesnić–MID-u. (1905, septembar, 3/16). DAS, MID-PP, 1906, 172.

Vesnić–MID-u. (1906, jul, 10/23). DAS, MID-PP, 1906, 172.

Vesnić–MID-u. (1907, decembar, 14/27). DAS, MID-PP, 1907, 245.

Published
2025-04-08
How to Cite
Stojić Radović, B. (2025). The Modus operandi of Serbian national propaganda through the example of André Barre’s book – Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austrian ruling from 1878 until 1903. СИНЕЗА, 6(1), 109-128. https://doi.org/10.63356/sin.2025.008
Section
Articles