Main official sourceHow we wish to be cited:
Dzaferagic S. Obituary – Stevan Dedijer and reformation of intelligence [health].
Rondel 2004; 20. URL: http://www.rondellen.net
Main official source
Sigurdson J, Tågerud Y (ed). The intelligent corporation – the privatisation of intelligence. A tribute to Stevan Dedijer on his 80th birthday, July 6, 1991. 199 pages. ISBN 0-947568-55-7. London: Taylor Graham 1992.
Editorial summary
Stevan Dedijer (1911-07-06--2004-06-13) was a theoreticical physicist, journalist, parachuter, and social scientist (1). He realized that old methods of scouting were out of date, "spying is dying". He also realized that mutual understanding bears a potential for peace; no normal individual wants to loose, and the price of victory may be expensive compared with an honorable peace. Thus, from about 1960, Dedijer made the study of intelligence a university topic - the study of information, communication, and security. He became one of the founders of modern economic and business intelligence. He was also aware of the weaknesses of present intelligence organizations, demonstrated by the intelligence fiascoes of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the wars of Korea in 1950 and 1952, the Cuba invasion in 1961, the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the Yom Kippur attack in 1973, the Khomeini victory in 1979, the collapse of USSR in 1989, the attack on World Trade Center in 2001, and the reported mass destruction weapons of Saddam Hussein. Last year, Stevan Dedijer celebrated his 92th birthday by parasailing over Dubrovnik; time took him a few weeks before his 93th birthday. General practitioner Samir Dzaferagic draws a personal oortrait of Dedijer.
Stevan Dedijer – a personal portrait
Admittedly, I have only met Stevan Dedijer a few times during the last years. I did not know him well. However, we had a basis of culture and country in common, and a mutual respect. I miss him, and I will remember him with joy.
Stevan appeared at my clinic some years ago. He had a personal style, grand, well dressed, and well spoken. It was hard to believe that he was more than 90 years old. I knew his background from former Yugoslavia. His family was famous. Stevan´s brother was a leading dissident during the 1950´ies.
In the context of a medical consultation, the doctor might easily be too dominating (2). Stevan never created such a professional problem. He steered the dialogue smoothly but firmly. He offered knowledge, experience, and analysis. At the same time, he extracted the information he wanted. He was an extremely pleasant patient, a seeker of truth, a keen listener, a master of communication, who shared his thoughts with me. There were both grim realities and hearty laughs.
I visited Stevan at the hospital during his last illness. Despite disease and fatigue, Stevan enjoyed himself and encouraged the staff; everybody knew him. When time was up, he wished to return to Dubrovnik and die there, in his last home, surrounded by his family. So ended an active life which, for all I know, contributed significantly to make our world a better one.
Samir Dzaferagic
VDC Södertull, Lund, Sweden
samir.dzaferagic@skane.se
References
Published September 16, 2004