Yugoslavia: The Fading Fear

Ever since World War II, Yugoslavs have talked only in whispers about the dreaded UDBA (for Uprava Drzavne Bezbednosti), or State Security Directorate, a faceless army of 20,000 or so state snoopers who modeled themselves after the Soviet secret police. But after finding a listening device in his own bedroom, Marshal Tito two months ago called for sweeping reforms and fired the security chief, Vice President Aleksandar Rankovic, 56. As a result, UDBA has become fair game for exposes.

There was plenty to expose. Capitalizing on their privilege to leave and enter...