Ljudska prava u Srbiji: 2015. DEMOKRATSKI DEFICIT – OSNOVA AUTORITARNOSTI
Human rights in Serbia: 2015. DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT - THE BASIS OF AUTHORITARIANITY

Contributor(s): Sonja Biserko (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Civil Society, Governance
Published by: Helsinški odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji
Keywords: Serbian elite; political ambivalence; Russian influence; EU integration; media polarization; authoritarian tendencies; regional geopolitics
Summary/Abstract: The Serbian elite has not shown the ability to harmonize its own potentials with the new demands of the times in the changed international circumstances. The unwillingness of the Serbian elite to face the consequences of Milošević's policy made it impossible to profile the political scene and promote political options important for the future of Serbia. Hence the posthumous praise of Slobodan Milošević, as another "tragic figure of national mythology". All this points to the modest liberal-democratic traditions of Serbian society and the state. Due to value and intellectual confusion, there is no consensus on general political-historical goals and public policy goals. A traditionally conservative block - from political parties (Democratic Party of Serbia, Dveri, Serbian People's Party), academic circles, Serbian Orthodox Church, universities, tycoons, to the media - which is oriented towards Russia and against reforms, has been consolidated. Consequently, Serbia's foreign policy position can be defined as "sitting on two chairs". That position, however, is becoming more and more uncomfortable and uncertain, given that the interests of several actors collide in the Balkans - Russia, the EU, the USA and, recently, Turkey. The consequence of the supposed neutrality comes down to a self-conceived "balancing", and "maintaining the balance" which creates suspicion on both sides, resulting in ever-increasing pressure.

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