Serbia at a Crossroads: Vučić’s Rule, Protest, and the Struggle for Democracy
Serbia, a nation of 6.7 million in the heart of the Balkans, stands at a pivotal moment in its post-Yugoslav history. With a diverse population-predominantly Orthodox Serbs, but also significant Hungarian, Bosniak, Roma, and Albanian minorities-the country has long balanced East and West, tradition and modernity. Today, however, Serbia is defined by political turbulence, mass protest, and an increasingly authoritarian government. Aleksandar Vučić: From Populist to Strongman Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia’s president, has dominated the country’s political landscape for over a decade. His Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) controls parliament, the media, and key state institutions. Once seen as a pragmatic reformer, Vučić has consolidated power through a blend of populism, patronage, and centralized authority. He presents himself as the sole guarantor of stability, but critics accuse him of eroding democratic norms, suppressing dissent, and using state resources to entrench hi...