Serbia burdened by the Democratic party

Analysis of Serbian political life tracing its paralysis and cynicism to a ‘gene’ inculcated as far back as 1968, a contradictory aspiration to combine a modernizing, ‘Western’ reformism with blood and soil nationalism.

The time of snakes

I went to Kolarac for the promotion of Dobrica Ćosić’s book The Time of Snakes. That whole atmosphere at Kolarac, those people who went there – the girl next to me, 17 or 18 years old, burst into tears as soon as Ćosić said “Good day”.

Instability

An interesting debate is taking place in scholarly publications and on the internet about the causes of the crisis, the ideological convictions and political recommendations.

Public statement

We would like to inform people’s deputies, the media, nongovernmental organizations and the public that the Government of the Republic of Serbia has forwarded to the People’s Assembly the Draft Law on Alterations and Amendments of the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance.

The counterfeiters

Getting an ID was turned into an important social event. And when you bend down in front of a clerk desk, you are a broken man, and the clerk gives you a look and starts grinding his teeth.

Institutional hindrance

Democratic Party has proven to be nothing more than a state-owned business enterprise and the primary source of corruption and of tycoons and of the faint-hearted politics which we cannot count on. But at the same time, we have no other choice.

The new income tax law

As part of austerity measures to cope with the current economic crisis, a new Law on Citizens’ Income Taxation is in force as of May 8, 2009.

Šljivančanin case

Public reactions to the Šljivančanin sentence represent a direct consequence of Serbian politicians’ habit to nurture a feeling of injustice inflicted on the Serbs.

Greetings from Šaban Bajramović

Following an initiative moved by the municipal Commission on Renaming Streets and Squares to name a blind alley on the outskirts of the city of Niš after Šaban Bajramović, a world famous Roma singer, a group of dwellers signed a petition against the initiative.

History as private property

The fact that Slavenka Drakulic has agitated the local public, proves only that the conspiracy of silence is widely accepted, writes translator and essayist Mirjana Miocinovic, defending Drakulic against her critics.  

Cataclysm, anarchy and knitting

US financial experts are talking of cataclysm and anarchy, but what really worries them is nationalization, writes George Blecher. Meanwhile, at street-level, the crisis is having some unusual effects.

It`s a wonderful life

Our parties were formed in the bars at the Terazije square. They were formed between friends and family. So they are sitting in a pub and agree about everything because they love each other.

Discrimination in Serbia

This public opinion survey was conducted for the purposes of the Project “Support to the Implementation of Anti-discrimination Legislation and Mediation in Serbia”.

The capital of Servia

An hour or so before we entered the Servian boundaries from Budapest, an officer in a dizzy uniform of scarlet and gold braid collected our passports, and asked a series of questions.

Candidature

The best interest of the EU, and probably of the applicant country too, is that the whole process unfolds so that a positive outcome is predictable and practically unavoidable.

Banks and state

The most important news coming from the EU has to do with ideas on how to help the European banks and member and candidate countries to avoid the danger of bankruptcy.

Withdrawal of the anti-discrimination law

Serbian Orthodox Church as one of undoubtedly most influential institutions in Serbia, has repeatedly demonstrated that it is more influential than it is guaranteed by laws and the Constitution of Serbia.

The Hague verdict

The part of the verdict which says that our country, Serbia, has through its highest state, military and police officials organised and implemented a criminal undertaking has terrible implications for all of us.

Connoisseurs of cruelty

Bones are bones. With the one difference that children have more small bones; they are less durable. And I came upon some small bones of the kind I was expecting to find.

The Bosniaks’ Bosnia policy

The dominant Bosniak policy is skilled at playing a double game: on the one hand, loudly advocating a multi-ethnic and civic Bosnia; on the other, acting in a way that favours the emergence of a two-thirds-majority Bosniak national state.

Serbia and Russia

During the past two centuries Serbian foreign policy makers have failed only too often to understand the nature of the Russian interest in the Balkans.

White Schengen for Serbia

There is a whole new generation coming up, whose formative experiences are lacking international travel, if we leave out graduation excursions to Budapest or Athens. The consequences of this can be seen in the crime pages in newspapers.