In this article the author analyses ideological and political bases of the ideal of national liberation and unification of the Yugoslav peoples, created in 19. century. Conceptions and program of the unification were determined by ideological viewpoints of their carriers, who were linking unification with the resolution of the position of Yugoslav peoples, after the centuries of occupations of Turkey and Austro - Hungary; these different attitudes and programs, beside the desire for liberation, were also linked by the awareness of ethnic closeness, which differentiated Slavic from Non - Slavic peoples. The founders of Yugoslav idea, enthralled with the revolutionary spirit and unballasted by national exclusivity, however, displayed true naivety, and lack of understanding of those phenomena which represented key obstacles to the common state, national identity and nationalism. Yugoslav ideologists, movements and organizations had built their enthusiasm and hope on the ideas which were revolutionary, romantic and, above all, unrealistic, which showed after two breakdowns of the common state in the period of 70 years.