Vladavina Hrvatsko-srpske koalicije : 1906-1907

The Reign of the Croatian-Serbian Coalition 1906–1907 is the first major monograph by the distinguished Croatian historian Mirjana Gross (1922–2012). The book represents her habilitation work. The work deals in detail with the period of rule of the Croatian-Serbian Coalition (HSK), which was founded on the foundations of the policy of the “New Course” and the Rijeka Resolution (1905). The coalition took power in Croatia after winning the elections in 1906, and was led by Franjo Supilo, Svetozar Pribićević and other leaders of the Croatian and Serbian liberal and progressive movements. Gross analyzes three main units: the formation of the coalition, its internal policy, and relations with Hungary and Vienna.

The author shows how the coalition tried to implement constitutional and administrative reforms, expand Croatian autonomy, resolve the Dalmatian issue and modernize the country, but encountered strong resistance from Hungarian ruling circles, Greater Austrian factors and the domestic opposition (especially Joseph Frank and the Rightists). The conflict over railway pragmatics in 1907, obstruction in the Budapest parliament and the final fall of the coalition government are particularly addressed. Gross shows the limitations of the "new course" policy in the dualistic system of Austria-Hungary, where the coalition had to balance between Croatian national interests, the Yugoslav idea and pragmatic compromises with the Hungarians.

The book is written in the spirit of the Yugoslav historiography of the time, but it stands out for its thoroughness of archival research and relative objectivity. It is considered a classic and the most important work on this topic in Croatian historiography of the 20th century. It is still used today as basic literature for the study of Croatian politics during the period of dualism, national relations between Croats and Serbs, and the crisis of the Austro-Hungarian system on the eve of World War I.