Description: Recent developments around the student protests in Serbia indicate that the student movement is experiencing internal divisions on an ideological and political basis influenced by the ruling government in the country as well as movements within the conservative political opposition in Serbia. The last and largest protest on 28 Jun was marked by the presence of individuals who supported Serbia’s ultranationalist ambitions and political entities which aimed at navigating the movement towards right and far – right political ideologies. Representatives from the student movement stated that their assembly so far has remained unified and even though there are significant differences they remain dedicated to their initial goal of demanding justice and accountability for the people that tragically died in the canopy collapse in Novi Sad. The ideological shifts within the protest movement were revolving around nationally significant issues such as the recognition of Kosovo’s independence and the official position on the Srebrenica massacres.
Impact: Serbia’s governing establishment has effectively managed to subvert the student movement and create internal divisions, painting the anti – establishment protests as a mechanism aimed at toppling the government. Even though there is no concrete evidence the student movement is politically sponsored or financed by Serbia’s political opposition, the government has exploited the unorthodox organizational structure of the civil movement to insert agitators within their ranks and compromise the public profile by labeling it as politically supported organization. President Vucic has so far resisted the public pressure to call snap elections, however, his longstanding grasp on power has been significantly compromised within Serbia’s youth population which is shifting from politically stagnant towards political activism. Serbia remains internally unstable with the political crisis showing signs of depletion.