Interesting, one of the last presidents of the old Republic being laid to rest in the city today Apparently the last head of the collective presidency whose tenure was entirely held under the old communist party of the Republic.
I practice a learned incapacity as to these things, and am only an amateur tourist, but the layers are interesting. Andric was a diplomat for the kingdom, and then apparently became a bit of a figurehead under the republic. Tito apparently stands for the proposition of the synthesis of peoples, and apparently not all nationalists are all that fond of him. (The old Serbian forces whose name is now an ethnic slur were offered amnesty in the peace after the second world war, which is perhaps slightly different from being merged into the new country.) But Tito and the ubiquitous Walter are apparently generally popular in several of the old national capitals.
While the doctrinaire tilt of the Republic was perhaps regrettable (being not aligned apparently allowed for a bit of a lean to the east), the scientific theory of government was perhaps the elixir that synthesized the political structures of the different nations.
The bio of the fellow being laid to rest today is interesting, at least from what I've gotten from a quick web trawl. Gentlemanly fellow, described as coming from one of the old Bey families. And then an ardent communist, with a red star on his death notice. Many layers -- classicism, scientific governance, the old courtly sensibilities.
Perhaps part of the point is to find a theory of working that allows sufficient space for the transcendentally human to emerge and guide things. The doctrinaire commissar of the old novels, like his fascist counterpart, has no space to think, none of his own leaven, only that of his pharisees.
Looking up random bits of history, I'm struck by how many of the wealthy citizens of past centuries in this city are described as scholars and poets. Perhaps it was part of the old courtly ways, an obligation of the nobility to practice poetry and scholarship, as opposed to the career-oriented vocation of present times. Instead of seeing this as a cheapening of the art, perhaps we see it as an indication -- if you are free enough to make poetry and pursue scholarship, there is something about humanity that makes it a good idea to do so.
And then, when you find yourself among the pharisees of your time, there's a measure of grace to be had.