MIDDLE CLASS AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS IN SERBIA IN RECENT TIMES Cover Image

СРЕДЊА КЛАСА И ЊЕНЕ ОДЛИКЕ У СРБИЈИ НОВИЈЕГ ДОБА
MIDDLE CLASS AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS IN SERBIA IN RECENT TIMES

Author(s): Biljana Simeunović Patić, Olivera Pavićević
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Универзитет у Нишу
Keywords: Middle Class; Middle Strata; Serbia; Social Transition

Summary/Abstract: The subject of the paper are historical development and characteristics of the middle class of the society, with special emphasis on development and transformation of middle classes in Serbia in the last several decades. In contemplation of the middle class of Serbia today, sustainability and scope of a relatively frequent statement in public discourse on recent history of the Serbian society is examined, the one which relates to the "fall of the middle class". Central subject of the paper is the question whether tectonic social crisis in the last 15 years has brought about disappearance, complete material and social breakdown of middle classes, i.e., whether the unstoppable enriching of members of the governing political and bureaucratic structures from the previous regime has brought about extreme polarization of the society, with a marginal leftover. Conclusions of the paper are that middle class in Serbia has only "generally" survived the 90s, that during the intensive social crisis it was partially injured, decomposed and differentiated, and that the said processes and the manner in which they took place have possibly left some unfavorable consequences to its "constructive social potential". In this sense the thesis discussed remains only partially confirmed.

  • Issue Year: 2007
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 95-112
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Serbian