Građani Srbije o bezbednosnim, socioekonomskim i političkim izazovima: strani uticaji i uloga EU u Srbiji
Citizens of Serbia on security, socioeconomic and political challenges: foreign influences and the role of the EU in Serbia

Author(s): Predrag Petrović
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Governance, Public Administration, Security and defense
Published by: BCBP Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku
Keywords: public perceptions in Serbia; hybrid security threats; foreign influence (Russia and China); European Union integration; institutional weakness and corruption; geopolitical balancing strategy; authoritarian governance trends
Summary/Abstract: This publication analyzes the perceptions of the citizens of Serbia1 about the contemporary security, political and socioeconomic challenges of Serbia, with a special focus on internal vulnerabilities, external influences and the role of the European Union (EU), from the point of view of the citizens of Serbia. The findings show that the threats to Serbia today relate less to immediate military risks and more to hybrid challenges, institutional weakness, systemic corruption and the erosion of democratic standards, further aggravated by global geopolitical rivalries. The survey points to a widespread perception that key security and development problems are primarily domestic in nature. Although external actors, especially Russia and China, are recognized as important factors of influence, their influence is most often realized through existing institutional weaknesses, non-transparent political and economic arrangements, as well as through the spread of disinformation and illiberal management models. Special attention was paid to cyber security, economic relations with China, and Serbia's growing distance from European market and regulatory standards.

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