The Tito-Stalin Split of 1948

This book explores Yugoslavia’s expulsion from the Soviet Cominform and its broader impact on international politics. Although being acknowledged as a crucial turning point during the Cold War, the split between Josip Broz Tito and Joseph Stalin in 1948 has not been widely investigated in historical research. Drawing on archival sources, the authors demonstrate the continuing historical relevance of this event to Europe’s contemporary diplomatic landscape. Providing different lenses through which to understand the impact of the Split on international affairs, the significance of Tito and Stalin’s conflict in the post-war years is emphasised. The collection is divided into two parts, the first covering the regional dynamics of the Split in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, and the second discussing the consequences for international relations. Bringing together recognised experts from around the world, this book offers an international perspective on the events and aftermath of the 1948 split. A fresh account of a renowned event in history, this book is a welcome contribution to Cold War studies and will be of particular interest to those researching European diplomatic history, post-war politics, and the history of Communism.

Zachary T. Irwin is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Political Science at the Behrend College of Pennsylvania State University, USA. He has held Fulbright-Hayes, IREX, and Wilson Center Fellowships, and published widely in academic journals such as East European Quarterly, Problems of Communism and South Asia.

1. Introduction: Yugoslavia's Expulsion from the Cominform, A First Cut; Zachary T. Irwin.- 2. The Yugoslavization of Albania, 1945-1948; Ana Lalaj.- 3. Greece and the Tito-Stalin Split; Theofanis G. Stavrou and Evanthis Hatzivassiliou.- 4. Yugoslavia’s Expulsion from the Cominform and Relations with the United States; Zachary T. Irwin.- 5. Between Stalin and Tito: Italian Communists in Yugoslavia and the Struggle for ‘True Socialism’; Francesco Privitera.- 6. The Tito-Stalin Split and the Balkan Pact: Reshaping Regional Integration Pans under New Conditions?; Stefano Bianchini.- 7. Balkan Federation and Yugoslav-Soviet Relations, 1945-1948; Aleksander Životi-.- 8. Tito, Stalin, and the Origins of the Cold War; Ellen Comisso.- 9. Tito and the Soviets: From Hate to Love and Back; Tvrtko Jakovina.- 10. Discovering New Worlds: Yugoslavia’s Early Interactions with Asia in the Shadow of the Tito-Stalin Split,1947-1951; Jovan -avoški.- 11. Albania: From the Yugoslav Orbit towards the Soviet Orbit; Ana Lalaj.- 12. Some Concluding Thoughts; Zachary T. Irwin.- 13. Afterword; Jože Pirjevec.