Serbia’s Powerful Student Uprising Force PM To Resign Providing Profound Lessons For Us All
The leaderless revolution used direct democracy to demand accountability for corruption and systemic injustice—offering a bold blueprint for global movements, from Belgrade to Palestine.
Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević stepped down on Tuesday, marking the most significant political casualty yet in the wake of anti-corruption protests sweeping the country.
“I chose this step to ease tensions,” Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced at a press conference on Tuesday, confirming his resignation. He also revealed that the mayor of Novi Sad would step down.
But across Serbia, the streets are still overflowing with defiance and a demand for accountability. What started as a somber mourning for the 15 lives lost in the tragic collapse of a newly renovated train station canopy in Novi Sad has transformed into a profound and powerful movement for justice, that we should all learn from.
The prime minister’s decision to resign came just as protesters ended a 24-hour blockade of a key intersection in Belgrade, the nation’s capital. The night before, with public outrage mounting and pressure on his government intensifying, President Aleksandar Vucic signaled a possible shift in tone, suggesting he might abandon his hardline stance and open the door to dialogue.
But the student-led movement has repeatedly said they don’t want resignations, they want justice and accountability, meaning jail for the criminals.
Serbia’s ministers for construction, transportation, and infrastructure, along with the trade minister, had already stepped down in response to the tragedy, but their resignations did little to calm the growing unrest.
On November 1, 2024, a reconstructed railway station roof in Novi Sad collapsed, claiming the lives of 15 people. The incident, which was attributed to corruption and substandard construction practices, ignited widespread outrage. In response, citizens began organizing protests, symbolized by 15-minute street blockades held at 11:52 a.m., the exact time of the accident.
On November 22, students from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade joined these protests, gathering near their campus. During their demonstration, an organized group arrived, and aggressively attacked the students. This incident fueled the students’ determination to take action, leading them to convene meetings to decide on their next steps.
They occupied their faculty, using direct democracy through plenary sessions and presented a list of conditions in order to end the occupation. The first demand was to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the November 22 attack.
Initially confined to their faculty occupation, the students from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts soon found support from students from other faculties across Serbia. The protests have intensified, spreading across 138 municipalities. Together, these groups formed a unified front, presenting four key demands to the Serbian government:
The Students Key Demands
Truth: Publish all relevant documents related to the Novi Sad train station reconstruction. Let the public witness the extent of corruption that has infiltrated the very foundations of the project.
Accountability: Hold accountable not only the individuals who attacked the protesters but also those responsible for the systemic rot that led to this tragedy.
Freedom: Release those arrested for daring to demand better conditions.
Education: Invest in students, not privatized institutions, and eliminate the punitive costs associated with the Bologna system’s ESPB points — The Bologna system uses ESPB points to measure course workload, and students must earn a certain number to graduate. In Serbia, students face financial penalties if they don’t earn enough points, including extra fees or repeating a year. They criticize the system as punitive, stressful, and unfair, especially for low-income students, and want reforms to make education more accessible and supportive.
While widespread citizens protest against lithium mining started to unify people in Serbia a few years ago, and while students do oppose lithium mining due to it’s obvious ecological impact, it’s not part of their official demands. The students went much deeper, to the core of the corrupt system.
I spoke to one student at Belgrade’s Faculty of Philosophy who explained to me that the 15-minute blockades symbolize mourning for the 15 lives lost and serve as a collective demand for justice by blocking the street in 15 minutes of silence as a way of paying respect to the dead, since the government failed to pay respect by not prosecuting anyone for the tragic incident.
In Serbia, it’s not just about a structure falling; it’s about a system crumbling under the weight of its own corruption.
The Decentralized, Leaderless Structure of the Movement
What sets the Serbian student movement apart is its decentralized, leaderless structure. The students operate through plenums, or general assemblies, which employ direct democracy to make decisions collectively. As the student told me explained, “It’s a deliberate rejection of traditional hierarchical models.”
This leaderless model ensures that no single individual can be targeted or co-opted, making the movement resilient against external pressure.
“Our current organizational structure seems to clash with Western ideals, particularly direct democracy and plenums. These concepts are not typically employed in establishing a liberal democracy. It necessitates the presence of representatives and a certain hierarchical structure. We have eliminated this hierarchy within our movement, and we find it liberating. I believe this is the underlying concept that the student movement is challenging. The way our movement is subversive is because of our organizational structure. I am uncertain how they will find a compromise to support us. I am also unsure of how this situation will unfold. However, I believe this is what makes us subversive. Ironically, what makes us subversive is also what has contributed to our success so far. Of course, if we were not organized in this manner, we likely would not have achieved this level of success. Therefore, I believe they are attempting to co-opt us in a way, to essentially give in to the way the system is supposed to function. And I think we should resist this as much as possible.”
The responsibility for addressing the media or public is shared among members, reinforcing the collective ethos. This structure has enabled the students to sustain their actions and maintain unity, despite attempts by opposition groups and political entities to infiltrate or influence their efforts.
A Fight Against Corruption
The students’ demands for accountability reflect a broader struggle against systemic corruption in Serbia. The collapse of the Novi Sad train station roof was not an isolated incident but a symptom of a deeper rot within the country’s governance. By demanding the publication of documents related to the reconstruction, the students are calling for transparency and exposing the pervasive corruption that has infiltrated public projects.
Their fight goes beyond holding individuals accountable; it challenges the very systems that enable such negligence to persist. The demand for justice for those attacked during protests and the release of arrested demonstrators underscore their unwavering commitment to protecting democratic freedoms and the right to dissent.
The Legacy of Yugoslavia and Systemic Inequality
The movement’s dissatisfaction with the current government stems from a broader critique of the post-Yugoslav era. After the fall of Yugoslavia, Serbia underwent significant privatization, which many students perceive as the primary cause of today’s corruption and inequality. The capitalist framework reinstated after Yugoslavia’s dissolution prioritized profit over public welfare, leading to economic disparities and the erosion of public institutions.
This historical context shapes the students’ understanding of systemic issues. While some within the movement focus on removing the current government, others argue that the problems run deeper, rooted in the very structures of global capitalism. Privatization, they contend, has created an environment where corruption flourishes, and public resources are exploited for private gain.
The student reflected on these dynamics, telling me that the movement’s liberal stance often limits discussions about systemic alternatives. However, there is a growing awareness among students of the need to envision a future beyond immediate reforms. This tension between addressing specific grievances and tackling the root causes of injustice highlights the complexity of their struggle.
Global Solidarity and the Call for Justice
The student movement’s demands for justice transcends national boundaries, resonate with people around the world, inspiring solidarity and support. This global solidarity underscores the urgency of their struggle and the need for collective action to address systemic inequality and injustice.
The movement’s energy echoes across the globe, resonating with other student-led protests, including those opposing the genocide in Gaza. While their immediate focus is local, Serbian students perceive their struggle as part of a larger fight against systemic oppression. A letter addressed to students worldwide, published three weeks into the protests, called for collective action and the adoption of plenums and direct democracy as tools to challenge injustice.
This solidarity highlights the interconnectedness of student movements. As the student I spoke to told me, oppressive structures across nations often stem from a single overarching system. By uniting their efforts, students can amplify their voices and demand accountability on a global scale.
Lessons For Student Movement Globally
This movement offers invaluable lessons for students and activists worldwide, particularly in the fight for Palestinian liberation from Israeli occupation and ethnic cleansing. Their emphasis on decentralized, collective action demonstrates the power of unity and shared purpose in challenging entrenched systems of oppression. By adopting leaderless models, movements can avoid co-optation and maintain focus on their core principles.
The fight against corruption, inequality, and systemic injustice is a global struggle. Just as Serbian students demand accountability for their government’s failures, the global community must hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. The interconnectedness of these movements serves as a reminder that justice anywhere requires solidarity everywhere.
The Serbian students’ persistence in the face of overwhelming odds is an inspiration. Their call to action resonates beyond borders, urging students worldwide to embrace direct democracy, challenge systemic corruption, and stand in solidarity with all who fight for justice. As the struggle for Palestinian liberation continues, the Serbian model provides a blueprint for resilience and hope in the face of adversity.