THE RISE OF THE RIGHT: THE CASE OF SERBIA - Foreign Fighters, Extremism and Terrorism
THE RISE OF THE RIGHT: THE CASE OF SERBIA - Foreign Fighters, Extremism and Terrorism
Contributor(s): Izabela Kisić (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Civil Society, Sociology, Security and defense, Nationalism Studies
Published by: Helsinški odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji
Keywords: extremism research; radicalization in Serbia; far-right movements; post-war nationalism; human rights
Summary/Abstract: The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia has been researching the ideologies and manifestations of extremism in the concrete historical, political and social circumstances for more than two decades. On the basis of these experiences, we have determined the framework, topics and methodology of the research presented in this publication. We have brought together psychologists, lawyers, culturologists, political scientists, journalists and activists who have perceived the phenomenon of extremism from different perspectives. The analyses are based on the information obtained from a large number of sources, including more than 60 interviews conducted by the Helsinki Committee team during 2021, judicial verdicts for terrorism and going to foreign battlefields, official data of the relevant Serbian institutions, media and academia. Multiperspectivity enables us to observe and explore a wide range of factors having an influence on the radicalization of both individuals and society.
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-86-7208-225-8
- Page Count: 242
- Publication Year: 2022
- Language: English
EXTREMISM CANNOT BE TACKLED WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT STRATEGY
EXTREMISM CANNOT BE TACKLED WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT STRATEGY
(EXTREMISM CANNOT BE TACKLED WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT STRATEGY)
- Author(s):Sonja Biserko
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Nationalism Studies
- Page Range:21-26
- No. of Pages:6
- Summary/Abstract:Although violent extremism is not a recent phenomenon, it is increasingly being recognized as the main challenge in the modern world. The rise of right-wing extremists has been neglected in the global fight against terrorism (mostly Islamic terrorism), up until the recent terrorist acts within every society, such as the ones in the US during the reign of Donald Trump, who through his speeches and actions supported white right-wing groups. This has led to the radicalization and the polarization of the country’s entire society, which is why the current administration announced the fight against domestic terrorism.
INSTITUTIONAL AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO RADICALIZATION, EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM IN SERBIA
INSTITUTIONAL AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO RADICALIZATION, EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM IN SERBIA
(INSTITUTIONAL AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO RADICALIZATION, EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM IN SERBIA)
- Author(s):Jarmila Bujak Stanko
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Civil Society, Governance, Security and defense, Nationalism Studies
- Page Range:27-69
- No. of Pages:43
- Summary/Abstract:This analysis of the National Strategy for the Prevention and Countering of Terrorism 2017–2021 was conducted to determine whether it adequately addresses the issues of extremism and radicalization, as well as whether the mandates and activities of all actors respond to existing needs and lead to desired effects, in order to identify possible shortcomings and formulate recommendations for improving the national response to the challenges posed by radicalization and extremism. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of strategy evaluation, which was to be carried out by the National Coordination Body for the Prevention and Fight against Terrorism, was postponed for 2022. Accordingly, the process of drafting a new strategy and national action plan will not begin before 2022.
COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND NEEDS FOR DERADICALIZATION AND REINTEGRATION PROCESSES IN SERBIA
COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND NEEDS FOR DERADICALIZATION AND REINTEGRATION PROCESSES IN SERBIA
(COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND NEEDS FOR DERADICALIZATION AND REINTEGRATION PROCESSES IN SERBIA)
- Author(s):Jarmila Bujak Stanko
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Sociology, Nationalism Studies
- Page Range:70-128
- No. of Pages:59
- Summary/Abstract:All the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia, face numerous challenges regarding the return of their nationals who are known or presumed to have fought on foreign battlefields in Syria or Ukraine. Improving the mechanisms that strengthen a community’s resilience to radicalization processes should be one of the priorities of Serbia’s new national strategy for the prevention and countering of terrorism. The Strategy for the period 2017–2021 emphasizes that effective protection against terrorism includes a well-established system of deradicalization and the resocialization of deradicalized persons, but the institutions have not dealt with these issues so far.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE VERDICTS AGAINST SERBIAN CITIZENS WHO FOUGHT ON THE SYRIAN AND UKRAINIAN BATTLEFIELDS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE VERDICTS AGAINST SERBIAN CITIZENS WHO FOUGHT ON THE SYRIAN AND UKRAINIAN BATTLEFIELDS
(COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE VERDICTS AGAINST SERBIAN CITIZENS WHO FOUGHT ON THE SYRIAN AND UKRAINIAN BATTLEFIELDS)
- Author(s):Nikola Kovačević
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Criminal Law, Criminology
- Page Range:129-167
- No. of Pages:39
- Summary/Abstract:Foreign fighters or persons associated with them are prosecuted around the world for various acts of execution, such as: calling for support for terrorist organizations,37 sharing materials that incite terrorism, terrorist training, assisting foreign fighters in travel, financing foreign fighters, recruiting, attempting to travel or traveling for the purpose of joining terrorist organizations,38 preparing to commit murder and other common criminal acts such as arson, preparing to commit terrorist acts, membership or participation in the activities of terrorist organizations, etc.
DEMOCRATIC POTENTIAL OF INSTITUTIONS FOR PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND RADICALISM LEADING TO TERRORISM
DEMOCRATIC POTENTIAL OF INSTITUTIONS FOR PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND RADICALISM LEADING TO TERRORISM
(DEMOCRATIC POTENTIAL OF INSTITUTIONS FOR PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND RADICALISM LEADING TO TERRORISM)
- Author(s):Ljiljana Palibrk
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Sociology, Security and defense, Criminology
- Page Range:168-181
- No. of Pages:14
- Summary/Abstract:The Ministry of Interior of Serbia is the principal body for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Prevention and Countering of Terrorism, but also stands out as an actor of exceptional importance in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism. The General Police Directorate is located in Belgrade and consists of 15 organizational units, almost each of which has numerous units, operational centers, centers for analysis and/or risk assessment, various specialized centers, etc. In addition, the Police Directorate has 27 regional organizational units outside its headquarters, which, to a much lesser extent, also have an extensive network of departments. The Criminal Police Directorate has a particularly important role in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism, and it includes the Department for the Fight against Corruption, the Service for the Fight against Organized Crime (SBPOK) and the Service for the Fight against Drugs, as well as the Service for the Fight against Terrorism and Extremism, whose work is organized in two special departments – for the fight against terrorism and for the fight against extremism, as well as four field departments (in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Novi Pazar).
THE STATE, THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY, AND MUSLIMS IN SERBIA
THE STATE, THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY, AND MUSLIMS IN SERBIA
(THE STATE, THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY, AND MUSLIMS IN SERBIA)
- Author(s):Ivan Ejub Kostić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Sociology, Security and defense, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:182-188
- No. of Pages:7
- Summary/Abstract:Since the Law on Churches and Religious Communities was passed in 2006, the legal status of the Islamic Community has still not been resolved. This is due to the fact that two parallel organizations119 claim to meet the conditions to be legally recognized as the official Islamic community, thus restitution regarding the property confiscated from this community after 1945 has still not been enforced. Also, because of this unregulated legal status, issues regarding the appointment of religious education teachers in schools are present. However, what is interesting is that the state, despite not recognizing either of the two organizations as the one meeting legal requirements to be recognized as the official Islamic community, accepted both organizations’ registrations, and in that sense took upon itself the obligation to aid them financially, to pay health insurance for the employees and pensions to former employees. But what is perhaps most important is that the state thus guarantees them both a status that exempts them from paying taxes to the government.
IDEOLOGICAL MATRICES, RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM, AND SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
IDEOLOGICAL MATRICES, RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM, AND SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
(IDEOLOGICAL MATRICES, RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM, AND SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH)
- Author(s):Aleksandra Đurić-Bosnić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Politics and religion
- Page Range:189-196
- No. of Pages:8
- Summary/Abstract:If we were to make a certain summary of ideological influences on the development and possibility of establishing a civic and plural society, even at the beginning of 2022, we could rightfully see Serbia as a hotbed of ideological warfare still raging almost with equal fervor as towards the end of the 1980s and at the beginning of the 1990s, with far-right organizations carrying out their operations almost unsanctioned and, when the need arises, collaborating with the current regime to promote the idea of the “Serbian world”. The fact is that it is precisely because of the expansion of nationalistic and right-wing ideological matrices, which have flooded the public space and which are being nurtured by cultural institutions and state-owned media, that Serbia is very far away from the secular and emancipated state model.
THE RIGHT AND RIGHTWING EXTREMISM IN SERBIA 2020–2021
THE RIGHT AND RIGHTWING EXTREMISM IN SERBIA 2020–2021
(THE RIGHT AND RIGHTWING EXTREMISM IN SERBIA 2020–2021)
- Author(s):Marija Srdić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Political behavior
- Page Range:197-223
- No. of Pages:27
- Summary/Abstract:In 2021, Serbia, like other countries in Europe and around the world, continued to face the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, both the direct, health and social ones, as well as the consequences that the two-year fight against the infection has had on the economy, political relations and society as a whole. Since the emergence of the virus, the public in Serbia has been receiving very contradictory information, primarily regarding the socalled patient zero and the beginning of the pandemic in Serbia, through arbitrary information about the severity of the virus to public health, all the way to information about the course and control of the epidemic, the number of patients, and then number of deceased, measures taken and the degree of rigidity of their application.
MEDIA: “PATRIOTISM” BACK IN STYLE (AGAIN)
MEDIA: “PATRIOTISM” BACK IN STYLE (AGAIN)
(MEDIA: “PATRIOTISM” BACK IN STYLE (AGAIN))
- Author(s):Tamara Skrozza
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Political behavior
- Page Range:224-231
- No. of Pages:8
- Summary/Abstract:Domestic media have ceased long ago to treat hate speech, inciting inter-ethnic prejudice and incendiary reporting on war crimes as burning issues. Moreover, they are treated as a chronic condition that is closely related to state policy. During 2021, we could say that the condition has, metaphorically speaking, metastasized: on one hand, the government no longer hides its intolerance towards neighbors and members of minority ethnic groups; on the other hand, the proregime media not only nurture this intolerance, but also uses it extensively in campaigns to persecute opposition – or criticism-oriented public figures.
MEDIA STIGMATIZATION OF MUSLIMS
MEDIA STIGMATIZATION OF MUSLIMS
(MEDIA STIGMATIZATION OF MUSLIMS)
- Author(s):Ivan Ejub Kostić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Political behavior
- Page Range:232-239
- No. of Pages:8
- Summary/Abstract:In his book Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity, sociologist Erving Goffman defines stigma as something “unusual or bad about the moral status of the signifier”.209 Goffman also points out that society plays a pivotal role when it comes to determining characteristics that are considered usual and natural, and that not all undesirable characteristics are contentious, but just the ones opposing the accepted stereotype about “what a certain type of person ought to be.” Therefore, a person who doesn’t fit in the categories previously mandated by the majority becomes defined as a “less desirable kind – in the extreme, a person who is quite thoroughly bad, or dangerous, or weak”.210 In that way, society creates an ideology to explain the different forms of the inferiority of a person (or a group), whereby it tends to rationalize its hostile attitude based on existing differences, which include the following of different religious teachings.
