A mass student protest held on Vidovdan in central Belgrade has triggered concerns among analysts and civil society groups over what they describe as a sharp ideological shift towards Serbian nationalism and the revival of slogans associated with the 1990s.
While the demonstration was initially framed as a civic movement demanding democratic reform, rule of law, and an end to corruption, some of the messages, symbols and speeches presented at the rally reflected a return to the narrative of “Serbian unification” and the ideological framework of the so-called “Serbian World” (Srpski svet), reminiscent of the late 1980s.
More than 140,000 people gathered at the rally organized by the group “Students in Blockade”, with participants chanting patriotic slogans and reciting verses laden with symbolism from the Kosovo mythos. One of the promotional videos for the rally featured a performance of a poem set to the melody of Hriste Bože, known as the unofficial anthem of the paramilitary unit “Red Berets”, which was active during the Yugoslav wars. Critics say this choice of music undermines the protest’s democratic aspirations.
“A return to the ideological patterns of the 1990s is not only dangerous but counterproductive to the goals of democratic change,” wrote commentator Tomislav Marković in an opinion piece for Al Jazeera.
During the protest, speakers quoted Serbian Orthodox bishop Nikolaj Velimirović — a controversial figure known for antisemitic and nationalist views — while others invoked Serbian sovereignty claims over Kosovo and the rights of Serbs in neighboring countries.
Political analyst Milo Lompar, a proponent of Serbian-Russian alignment, addressed the crowd, calling for the protection of Serbs in Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia and Bosnia’s Republika Srpska — views aligned with the long-standing ideology of “Serbian integralism.”
Student representatives also read a declaration asserting Kosovo and Metohija as “an inalienable part of Serbia” and called for a foreign policy based on military neutrality and defense of Serb communities across the region.
“These ideas mirror the programs of ultranationalist parties such as Dveri and the Serbian Radical Party,” Marković wrote. “It’s a concerning shift away from civic protest to nationalist spectacle.”
Observers noted the absence of demands related to democracy, human rights or institutional reform — issues that had previously defined the student movement. “This redirection risks alienating democratic-minded citizens and entrenching the very autocratic structures the protest once opposed,” Marković said.
The protest took place amid mounting political tensions in Serbia, where President Aleksandar Vučić has faced sustained criticism over media freedom, corruption, and electoral fairness. While Vučić has not commented directly on the ideological tone of the student protest, government allies have expressed support for patriotic unity.
Analysts warn that such rallies, if co-opted by nationalist forces, could serve to consolidate rather than challenge the existing political order. “If the goal is truly democratic reform, nationalism won’t get us there,” Marković concluded.