The internal political and social dynamics of Serbia, dictated by both dominant political tribes, keep it moving further away from membership in the European Union, and tightly in the grip of authoritarianism, superstition, revanchism, and nationalism, closely aligned to Russia and China.
Category: europe
Student movement: The third and final wave of Serbian nationalism
Even before proclaiming their Kosovo Memorandum, the Serbian student movement has been as nationalist and revanchist as the current Serbian ruling coalition from the word go. It was pretty obvious ever since the protests started. Why is everyone acting all surprised now after they produced yet another right-wing pamphlet?
Do us all a favor and stop platforming Aleksandar Vučić
The foreign commentators' cardinal mistake is foremost the fact that they even give room to Serbian top politicians, like President Aleksandar Vučić, who represent a vicious strain of narcissistic Serbian nationalism, and often fall into the trap of sympathizing with their sentiments. That's the wrong approach, and it helps no one.
A take from Bulgarian netizens on their recent elections
After a landslide victory by Progressive Bulgaria headed by the ex-president Rumen Radev, there is speculation about Bulgaria taking Hungary's place as the chief Russian ally inside the European Union. Bulgarian netizens and activists offered some insight about it on social media.
The “It’s all Marta Kos’ fault” coalition
In yet another wonderful display of national unity, both the government and student supporters in Serbia are blasting EU Commissioner Marta Kos, after her announcement that Serbia might lose 1.5 billion euros from the EU Growth plan. Also, futile speculation about when will Aleksandar Vučić call snap election continues.
Anti-Ukrainian pro-Europeans of Serbia
A recent poll in Serbia conducted by Ninamedia asked, "Who is responsible for the war in Ukraine?" The respondents answered NATO 31.1%, US 28.2%, Ukraine 16.1%, Russia 8%, and EU 5.3%.
MAGA Eastern European tour: Are the Hungarian communists in the room with us now, Junior?
While JD Vance was visiting Hungary to support his right-wing ally Viktor Orban, Donald Trump Jr. was also visiting this neck of the woods answering the call of another political ally of his father - the the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) run by Milorad Dodik, the former president of Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Populists be popular: What foreign commentariat doesn’t get about Serbia
The copy-paste conventional wisdoms about the situation in Serbia published in the West are a dime a dozen, pushing imaginary narratives but have no grounds in reality. Yes, this is a paternalist autocracy - it was re-elected as such back in 2012. Electorate here knew full well what Vučić is - and they love it (sort of).
Serbian Ides of March
One of the most common political tropes of the Serbian political discourse for the last four decades has been the recurring victimhood narrative of the "suffering Serbian people" that is trampled upon the weight of historical injustices which seem to have a higher occurrence in March - the anniversaries of Milošević's death, the assassination of Zoran Đinđić and the anniversary of the NATO bombing.
And now for something completely the same
Serbian student movement has been establishing itself as the only viable alternative to the Serbian government, with support from the media and public figures, all the while trying to court the nationalist electorate and distance itself from the established opposition parties that the students keep painting as undesirable and no better than the ruling Progressives.
Serbianism 