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This paper examines the uses and abuses of language for purposes of political and war propaganda and its potentials for establishing and maintaining peace. It is based on the experience of the former Yugoslavia and, after its disintegration, of Serbia. The paper is in six parts. A brief and largely terminological introduction (1) is followed by sections on hate speech (2), euphemistic speech (3), the two in contrast (4), and peace discourse (5); at the end are some tentative concluding remarks (6). Between them, these sections cover the various verbal devices and strategies employed in changing circumstances over the past decade. This includes the breakdown of the Yugoslav federation, waves of conflicts between the ruling parties and the democratic opposition in Serbia, focussing on periods of elections and demonstrations, a comparison between Western and Serbian propagandas during the NATO attack on the present Yugoslavia, and current developments as a new round of elections approaches. A possible profile of a more peaceful type of discourse is outlined against this background, suggesting that professional linguists are well equipped to make a contribution to the gradual transformation of public language from a weapon to an instrument of peace-building. © 2000, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.