Challenges to civil society leadership in Serbia nowadays?

In order for people outside CEE to understand the political and civil situation in Serbia, we must take a look back at the previous decades. Communism (1945-1990) and Socialism (1990 - 2000) left Serbia with debts towards different sides. It was expected that the democracy will straighten the financial situation up, but the post war government was mostly created by the same politicians who were encharge before and during the war and the situation is now the same. A few governments have changed after the NATO bombing in 1999 until now, but no government was able to improve the civil, financial or the legislative situation. The first democratic government after NATO bombing had most success, but only the down sides of that government are being pointed out by the temporary government. It's been eighteen years since the democracy was implemented in Serbia, but the debts are only bigger now, economy resembles the one during the wars and sanctions and people are leaving the country looking for better payed jobs. Nowdays, Serbia is a candidate for entering the EU, which means the government is leaning towards the West. On the other hand, Serbia is in 'unbreakable' partnership or brotherhood with Russia, which leans the government to the East. The political standing of Serbia is unknown for it's people, since both Russia and EU have different requests for Serbian government. This is a neverneding story, because if Serbia decides to fulfill the EU requests it will loose a part of it's theritory - Kosovo, which is Russia guarding on a political level. Regarding inner political situation, as I previously said, the economy is not looking good, the pay grade is lower than in all neighbour countries, even the pensions were lowered due to economic reforms in 2014. The bad economy lead to devided society, poverty and corruption, which found it's starting point in government. This all affects the society in many levels and all mentioned above is crutial for the Serbian government to resolve.

0
icon