The current political structure in Croatia provides the Serb minority with cultural autonomy and guaranteed political representation, and is a far cry from the demands that were voiced by Serb leaders before and during the conflict in the 1990s. This article argues that minority elite bargaining over this period constitutes an important explanatory factor in the development and functioning of these autonomy arrangements. Before, during and after the conflict, Serb elites adopted various proposals on autonomy that shaped the basis for further negotiation. By tracking the evolution and shifts in these positions, this article seeks to explain how such proposals came about, and argues that a combination of internal disagreements, changing relations with Belgrade and the interplay of actions and rhetoric within the Croatian government determined the path and ultimate shape of autonomy for the Serb community.