Zov divljine: HND versus HDZ

The book Zov divljine: HND versus HDZ (Call of the Wild: HND versus HDZ) by publicist Dragutin Hlad—published in 1995 by Misl—presents a sharp analysis of a pivotal domestic political rift in independent Croatia during the mid-1990s. The author examines the causes, course, and consequences of the political split within the ruling HDZ party, which culminated in the founding of the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND) under the leadership of high-ranking state officials Stjepan Mesić and Josip Manolić. Through an unconventional and critical lens, Hlad dissects the political disagreements that led to the parliamentary crisis of 1994—including disputes over policy regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, privatization processes, and the general direction of state governance. With the title "Call of the Wild," the author metaphorically describes the raw struggle for power, factional conflicts, and the nature of the political underworld amidst the backdrop of war and transition. The book offers valuable insight into the dynamics of the Croatian political scene in the 1990s, revealing the power relations, political rhetoric, and democratic challenges the young state faced during that period.