Yes and no. Yes in the sense that many very popular music bands were formed that had members- Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians.
(by Bosnians meaning Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Serbs, and Bosniak muslims).
The most famous of them Bijelo Dugme (member Goran Bregović himself was born to a Croat father and a Serbian mother.)
There were many pop festivals held that featured popular Croat, Serb, and Bosnian singers together.
And then there was the electrifying 1984 Olympics held in Sarajevo (then Yugoslavia) - a very unifying event.
As usual, music and the arts was the beauty and the glue that unified people together.
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Communism is always thought of as very anti religious, but under Tito rule, Bosnian Muslims actually gained recognition and status on the same footing as Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Montenegrins, and Macedonians.
Also, the government implemented law which required all children to attend elementary schools which had positive effects on literacy rates of Muslim children in Yugoslavia, especially girls, who had historically been deprived of formal education.
Communism in Yugoslavia theoretically welcomed “inclusiveness” different religions, but in practice it curbed influence of religious institutions, believing them as serving nationalist agendas more than spiritual needs. For example, in the 40’s they banned the face veil wearing of muslims. Sharia courts were abolished, etc.
“religion was contained to the private and spiritual moral norms, taught at the level of individual responsibility to live up to the Islamic principles while fully participating in public life as dictated by the secular state.”
And with the support of the Grand Mufti of the Yugoslav Islamic community, there was focus placed on women’s rights, particularly outlawing of face veil previously mentioned and improving female education.
I will say something controversial here - if it wasn’t for Tito’s communist Yugoslavia it is very possible that Bosnian muslim women today could be like we see many women in middle eastern countries wearing niqab/feredža.
But, ultimately no. You are right in the sense that ethnic tensions existed for people that are “this way inclined” even before Tito came into power, which some extreme horrors committed.
And while the communist government may have believed they were curtailing full religious expression for the good of the people, the region, and cohesive brotherhood, ironically they ultimately committed their own horrors.
I guess Inbonum is right that is was ultimately an illusion, it did not last, but I don’t think the good parts cannot be dismissed so readily either.
It is interesting what you said about Lebanon.
. Brilliant! And very good sarcasm as well!