What do we know about life in socialist Yugoslavia? I'm confused by all the absurdly contradictory claims by people here, and I really don't know who to trust.

by codesharp
Fucho

It is a really broad question, so very difficult to answer. On one hand, we do know quite a bit about life in Yugoslavia, on another there definitely is a lack of what we might call "history of everyday life" for Yugoslavia. A major issue is the diversity and large differences between regions, within Yugoslavia as a whole (compare Slovenia as most prosperous republic, and Kosovo as poorest autonomous region), and even within individual republics (life in Zagreb in mid 1950s and in small villages in poorest regions of Lika).

If you can be a bit more specific, I might possibly provide more of an answer.

For now, most I can do is mention two collections of papers that are sort of opening the issues of everyday life in Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia's Sunny Side edited by Grandits and Taylor focuses on tourism, so covers more of a leisure side of things although it also includes works on cultural transfers, local economic and standard of living impacts of tourism, etc. Second, and likely more in line with your interests, is Remembering Utopia: The Culture of Everyday Life in Socialist Yugoslavia, edited by Luthar and Pušnik. It has large sections on popular culture, on work and leisure and on consumption.

For a more specific issues, I might have more to say or more works to recommend. Also, if by "here" you mean ex-Yugoslav region (or if you can read the language) it would help.