Greater Serbian Nationalism Takes Over Student Protests in Serbia: The Dark Side of Resistance to Vučić
The protests in Serbia have been going on for months, and what was supposed to be a fight for democracy and the rule of law is slowly turning into a dangerous spectacle of Greater Serbian nationalism. The German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung does not mince words – they say that students at the protests in Serbia have started spreading war slogans and glorifying war criminals, dragging us back to the dark 1990s.
Nationalism Instead of Democracy
The latest protest on June 28, on Vidovdan, a day with mythical significance for Serbian nationalism, showed how serious the situation is. Speakers hysterically shouted about blood, ancestors, and the homeland, and one even read a text by Nikolaj Velimirović, a known Serbian nationalist priest and admirer of Hitler. Instead of fighting for rights and freedoms, students turned to spreading Greater Serbian slogans and relativizing war crimes.
War Mongers on the Student Stage
A literature professor praised the poetry of Radovan Karadžić, a convicted war criminal, and called for a fight for the “freedom of the Serbian people” outside Serbia, which caused unpleasant memories among viewers in the region about genocide and mass graves. Such speeches were not only held but were enthusiastically welcomed, clearly showing how deeply rooted this nationalism is.
Division Within the Protests
Of course, not all students are the same, and many find this nationalist tone repulsive. But if they do not distance themselves from such outbursts, the protests will split and weaken, and Vučić will continue to use nationalism as a tool to maintain power. Currently, students are trying not to let nationalism be taken over by Vučić, but this path leads in the wrong direction.
Vučić and Nationalism – Inseparable?
Vučić is only the visible expression of a deeper nationalist delusion in society. His rule will not be shaken by nationalist circuses because no one can match that discipline. But if this path continues, Serbia will remain trapped in the past while true democracy and the rule of law drift away.
Conclusion
This is not just a story about students and protests. It is an alarm for all of Serbia and the Balkans. Will we allow the past to swallow us again? Or will we fight for a future without hatred and nationalism? If you have an opinion or have seen something similar, drop a comment – maybe together we can find a way out of this vicious circle.
