Based on the memories of a few leading Yugoslav military
servicemen, the article presents certain practices that were
common in the global arms trade, but which did not necessarily
fit the ideological framework of the Second Yugoslav
state. The susceptibility of state officials to corruption in the
developing countries often facilitated arms deals, and the
Yugoslav arms trade followed patterns that were based on a
non-aligned policy and that were becoming increasingly inefficient.
One ideological problem was the commission payment
that opened every door and made competitive business possible.
This commission was obviously seen as unacceptable and
immoral, if pragmatic; however, using “modern marketing
methods” was essential for survival in the market. The arms
trade and accompanying services contributed twice as much
to the Yugoslav budget as tourism; consequently, refusal to
recognize the commission/bribery concept in the 1980s was
no longer an option.