Goldstein argues WWII Yugoslav history was skewed by partisanship, advocating for a focus on anti-fascism over pure communism.
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Goldstein argues that previous writings on World War II in communist Yugoslavia were often biased by Communist Party viewpoints, where content was judged by its usefulness to the party. While acknowledging that anti-fascism is strongly associated with the communist movement in Croatia and former Yugoslavia, he maintains that the Partisans were fundamentally on the right side because they resisted the occupiers, while the fascist Independent State of Croatia (NDH) committed atrocities against Jews, Serbs, Roma, and opponents. Although he builds a positive narrative around the Partisans, he does not ignore their mistakes or crimes, arguing that this does not undermine the justice of their struggle. He clarifies that his book is not polemical and incorporates solid scholarship from various researchers. Despite the communist leadership in the anti-fascist struggle, he provides data showing that communists were often a minority in the Partisan ranks, though they maintained control over time. Ultimately, he suggests that the communist-led option, despite its flaws, was the best available choice for liberation and social justice in a deeply impoverished society.
