Student protests in Serbia: turning tragedy into a movement
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Student protests in Serbia: turning tragedy into a movement
In a watershed moment in Serbia’s history, Aida Kapetanović and Filip Balunović will examine the wave of protests that has been unfolding in the country since November 2024, driven by student movements.
- Donatella della Porta – Scuola Normale Superiore
- Chiara Milan - Scuola Normale Superiore
- Aida Kapetanović - Universities of Rijeka and Belgrade
- Filip Balunović - Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Serbia is experiencing its largest-ever protest movement since 2000. Led by university students and joined by people of all walks of life, the protests were sparked by the collapsing of the roof of the renovated railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people. The student-led demonstrations transformed into a massive movement against the authoritarian rule and widespread corruption in the country, which did not stop even after the resignation of the PM. Mass anti-corruption gatherings have been organized in the Serbian capital and in almost every town across the country, demanding change and accusing the President Aleksandar Vucić’s government of fostering corruption and authoritarianism. The students leading the protests advanced four demands: the publication of all documents concerning the Chinese-led renovation of Novi Sad railway station before the accident; the prosecution of all those involved in attacking students and professors during the protests and their dismissal to be public officials; a halt to the prosecution of students arrested during the protest; and a 20% increase in the budget for higher education. The student-led protests, which triggered protest occupations of university faculties across the country, have become the biggest challenge to Vucić government since he came into power in 2012.