A blog by Marina Milic
A Tipping Point: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement
Serbia stands at a crossroads following a tragedy that ignited mass civic resistance. The collapse of a reconstructed canopy at Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024, which claimed 15 lives, became a symbol of systemic corruption and regime negligence. Only this time, it was not just another in a series of tragedies—it became the tipping point, as it was a direct consequence of systemic corruption and clientelism.
Once again, people took to the streets. Once again, demands for political and criminal accountability were met with the regime’s familiar response—intimidation, targeting, and creating an atmosphere where violence became not only possible but justified. This time, the targets of repression were students who staged a fifteen-minute street blockade to honor the victims and demand responsibility. Rather than silencing dissent, the attack on „our children“ only strengthened the movement. Three months later, the protests have grown into one of the most significant student-led movements in recent history, not only in Serbia but across Europe—the largest since 1968.
Long dismissed as passive and apolitical, Serbia’s youth have emerged as the new standard-bearers of civic resistance and the rule of law. Their patriotism is not declarative but proactive; they do not want to leave the country—they want to change it. Their demands focus on holding those responsible for the canopy collapse and the attack on protesters accountable—not through political directives, but through proper legal and institutional processes.
Under the slogan „You have no jurisdiction“ (Nisi nadležan), students reject President Vučić’s attempts to personally interfere in institutional matters that should be handled independently. They are not concerned with individual politicians, not even the president himself; what they demand is a system where institutions function as they should, free from political influence. In this way, the protests are not anti-regime per se, but fundamentally anti-systemic.
A New Generation of Civic Resistance
Throughout history, students have been catalysts for change, standing against undemocratic regimes and holding those in power accountable. The global student uprisings of 1968 demanded reform across a divided Europe, and today, Serbia is witnessing one of the largest student-led movements in Europe since then. Protests have now spread to over 200 places in Serbia, making them the most significant wave of dissent since the fall of Slobodan Milošević in 2000.
As in the past, students have once again taken center stage in Serbia’s fight for democracy. During the 1996/97 protests, they led the charge against electoral fraud and Milošević’s authoritarian regime. Many of those former activists now see striking parallels with today’s movement, as their own children take to the streets. Then, as now, universities were occupied, streets reclaimed, and noise—banging pots, chanting slogans—became a tool of resistance. Writers, actors, and intellectuals have rallied behind the students, reinforcing the legitimacy of their demands.
Yet, one key difference sets today’s movement apart—the power of digital activism. Unlike the 1996/97 student protests, which were heavily influenced by opposition parties, today’s students organize autonomously, bypassing state-controlled media and relying on social media to coordinate and spread their message. This decentralization has made them resilient against co-optation and suppression.Decisions are made collectively in structured plenary sessions held at university faculties, ensuring that no single individual can be singled out as a leader.
As being mentioned, In contrast to the 1996/97 student protests, today’s student movement is shaping its own agenda through decentralized organizing while explicitly keeping the opposition at a distance. By doing so, they aim not only to shield themselves from government repression, but also to distance themselves from an opposition they no longer trust, ensuring that their movement is not co-opted for political gain.
This approach, while providing them with a sense of autonomy, also fundamentally disrupts existing political structures. Their demands—if met—would effectively dismantle the regime, forcing the movement to confront a crucial question: What comes next? Sustaining momentum without being drawn into a war of attrition will require strategic foresight. While students remain wary of traditional political actors, meaningful change will ultimately require engagement with institutional mechanisms—whether through a transitional government, elections, or a new political alternative that bypasses the existing system altogether.
Rhetoric and Tactics: Turning Repression into Resistance
As during the protests of the 1990s, the regime today employs well-worn tactics to delegitimize and weaken student protests. Students have been labeled as foreign agents and tools of international intelligence services, with their movement framed as an attempted ‚color revolution‘ – a narrative frequently used by authoritarian leaders such as Putin, Xi Jinping, Lukashenko, Orbán etc. to discredit grassroots uprisings and portray them as externally orchestrated attempts to destabilize the country. Aleksandar Vučić has directly accused students of working to undermine national stability and warned that his supporters‘ ‚patience is running out,‘ subtly alluding to the possibility of escalated repression.
Instead of direct police crackdowns, the government has relied on targeted intimidation, media smears, and state-sponsored counter-rallies – a classic authoritarian strategy designed to create the illusion of broad public support. Protest participants have been subjected to verbal assaults, threats, and coordinated attacks in pro-government media, where they are framed as an existential threat to national security.
At the same time, in an effort to diffuse public anger, the government made limited concessions – such as declassifying certain documents related to the train station collapse and charging 13 individuals over the disaster. However, these measures failed to curb the growing dissatisfaction, as 61% of Serbian citizens support the protests and the blockades that followed the deadly accident, according to CRTA (Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability).
Far from discouraging dissent, these tactics have backfired. The government’s efforts to create an atmosphere of fear have only fueled the protests, expanding them instead of quelling them. Each new attempt to delegitimize them has only reinforced their determination, turning what started as a 15-minute tribute to the victims into a nationwide uprising. The movement’s defining moments include the General Strike, the blockade of Autokomanda, mass gatherings at Slavija, the march to Novi Sad, and the shutdown of all three bridges in the city. These events have demonstrated the students’ ability to coordinate large-scale actions across the country, sustaining momentum even in the face of government repression. With no signs of slowing down, the protests have become a historic challenge to the regime – one that continues to gain strength rather than wane.
The Role of the European Union: Practice What You Preach?
The rise of authoritarian learning across Europe – where illiberal leaders refine their tools of control and repression – has created an unfavorable climate for democratic uprisings. Yet, from Serbia to Slovakia and Georgia, we are witnessing a democratic awakening, a counterforce of democratic learning, proving that resistance is not futile.
However, the European Union’s response has been weak. While Brussels has issued statements of concern, it has failed to take concrete action.Serbian civil society has urged the EU not to turn its back on protesters, issuing an open letter to EU officials calling for a more decisive stance. Yet, EU institutions remain hesitant to translate rhetoric into action The European Commission has called for restraint, but no real pressure has been applied to Vučić’s government.
The Serbian protests challenge not only local authoritarianism but also the broader European trend of democratic backsliding. The EU cannot afford to ignore this movement—it is a test of its commitment to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Without political, financial, and institutional backing, Brussels risks losing credibility among the very people fighting for European values in Serbia.
Conclusion: The Continuity of Resistance
Student resistance in Serbia is not a new phenomenon – it is a continuous struggle of generations for justice and freedom. The current generation of students not only inherits this tradition but also enhances it through digital literacy, global connectivity, and creativity. Their fight serves as a reminder that change is possible, even under the most repressive circumstances, and that the strength of society lies in solidarity and a shared vision of a more just world.
Marina Milic completed her master’s degree in Democracy and Democratization at the Faculty of Political Sciences. Her field of interest includes protest movements, authoritarian regimes, EU enlargement.
Image via Stefan Miljuš, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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