The EU’s strategic compromises are blinding it to the ongoing fight for democracy in Serbia --
Since November 2024, Serbia has experienced a huge wave of anti-government protests. As students and citizens continue to pump up the situation by doubling down on their demands…
cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/3713310
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Given the Western Balkans’ complex socio-political structure, the EU’s ongoing dilemma of stability vs democratisation has consistently favored the former. This trade-off has enabled [President Aleksander] Vučić to consolidate his power while fostering a form of ‘stabilitocracy’.
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Despite pouring an enormous amount of money into Serbia, the EU has lacked a coherent strategy to transform its support into political influence, failing to break Belgrade’s long-lasting ties with Moscow. This gave Russia a safe space to fuel regional instability and spread anti-EU propaganda – reflected in Serbian public opinion that the West – not Russia – is to blame for the war in Ukraine.
Serbia’s facade of neutrality, reluctantly condemning the i