2024-10-03

Civil Society and Thirty Years of the Fight for Democracy

Belgrade, 3.10.2024.

On October 3rd, 2024, the Center for Democracy Foundation organized a debate titled "Civil Society and Thirty Years of the Fight for Democracy" to mark 30 years of its work.

Opening remarks were given by Slobodan Georgiev, journalist; Vukosava Crnjanski, CRTA; Bojana Selaković, National Convention on the European Union; Jelena Jerinić, MP, Green-Left Front; Miloš Đajić, Centre of Modern Skills; and Nataša Vučković, Center for Democracy Foundation. The discussion was moderated by Danica Vučenić, journalist. Participants in the debate included Prof. Dr. Dragoljub Mićunović, Prof. Dr. Zoran Stojiljković, Duško Vuković, and others.

Dragoljub Mićunović, founder of the Center for Democracy, said he was pleased to see debate taking place, as civil society is distinct from the military and police in that orders are given in the latter, whereas discussion and deliberation are hallmarks of a democratic society.

The Secretary General of the Foundation, Nataša Vučković, stated in an interview on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the founding of the CDF that the lessons learned from the 1990s and the events of the 5 October 2000, highlight that the transformation of a society is a significant task, one which perhaps cannot be accomplished by a single generation.

Comparing the current situation to 1994, when the Center for Democracy was founded, Vučković observed that there was more hope for change at that time, as Europe aspired to embrace the Eastern Bloc, and there was greater global optimism that democracy would become a universal system.

“We feel as though we’re at a standstill, as if nothing has changed. There was greater hope in the nineties that democracy would become a general, global system. All of Europe embraced the countries that left the Eastern Bloc and celebrated EU expansion. In Serbia, we were paralysed by war and sanctions; civil society was small, but it had stronger support from Europe in its pursuit of democratic values,” said Nataša Vučković.

During the discussion, it was highlighted that the civil sector has played a key role in preserving and advancing democratic values in Serbia, though democracy itself has faced increasing threats in recent years.

According to Vukosava Crnjanski, founder and director of CRTA, the very existence of civil society is an achievement today.

“There’s been social regression, creating, I would say, an electoral autocracy. It seems the system is designed so the opposition cannot win, while civil society is portrayed as an enemy of both the government and the public, raising the question of how civil society will survive this demonisation,” Crnjanski stated.

Addressing the topic, Bojana Selaković, coordinator of the National Convention on the EU, pointed out that, as difficult as the nineties were, there was at least clarity over sides: “There was a clear sense of who was good and who was bad, but now much is in a grey area.”

“Now we’re facing a stagnant, murky situation, and working with adherence to normal values has become extremely challenging. It’s difficult for civil society, independent media, the academic community, and business people alike,” said Selaković.

When asked about the opposition political parties’ approach to civil society organisations, Jelena Jerinić, MP from the Green-Left Front, noted that there is an expectation for the opposition to share a unified stance on everything, “which is unnatural.” She added that some opposition parties view civil society organisations less favourably.

“The Green-Left Front frequently consults with civil society organisations, seeking support when proposing legislation or submitting amendments. For us, it’s a natural approach since many of us have roots in the civil sector,” Jerinić said.

Miloš Đajić, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Center for Modern Skills, observed that despite the challenges, civil society in Serbia remains committed to EU integration and democracy.

He stressed the importance of “keeping a foot in the door, preventing it from closing entirely. If we let it shut, darkness would prevail.”

“Democrats should be present everywhere—from tenant association meetings to Parliament,” Đajić declared.

Journalist Slobodan Georgiev argued that the current authorities in Serbia have no interest in the expertise held by the civil sector in any field of policy, “because those in power have abolished politics. The current government does not solve issues politically rather through corruption,” he said.

Georgiev assessed that civil society has never been stronger, citing the recent fight against lithium mining as evidence of how the civil sector rallied the Serbian public this past summer.

The discussion concluded that the civil sector and parties advocating for a civic society and committed to democratic governance must establish closer collaboration.

The civil sector brings knowledge and support, while parties must strive to win elections, summarised the debate, Civil Society and 30 Years of Struggle for Democracy.