For the past three months, Serbia has witnessed an extraordinary wave of student-led protests that have shaken the country’s political landscape. What began as outrage towards the Novi Sad railway station collapse on 1 November evolved into a movement against rampant corruption, economic inequality, and democratic backsliding. As Serbian students rise and coalesce into a mass movement, their example offers valuable lessons for us all.
One of the most striking aspects of the Serbian student protests is the political diversity of their alliances. Liberals, conservatives, socialists, and even traditionally apolitical groups have found common cause in opposing corruption and authoritarian governance. This unity has been crucial in sustaining the movement’s momentum, as it transcends narrow ideological divides in favour of a collective demand for change.
Serbia’s protests did not emerge overnight. They are the result of years of growing frustration and persistent activism. Students have understood that real change does not come from a single protest but from sustained pressure over time, occupying university campuses and leveraging social media to amplify their voices. Their perseverance has forced the government to take notice of their demands. On 28 January, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, a close ally of President Aleksandar Vučić, resigned over the Novi Sad collapse and the protests. However, the students are not yet satisfied, calling for a complete reform of a system they deem rotten to the core.
Serbia’s protests reveal another fundamental truth: students are uniquely positioned to spark broader social movements. Their protests have resonated beyond campuses, drawing in workers, opposition parties, and civil society groups. This is not a coincidence. Students, with access to educational institutions, digital networks, and a degree of social mobility, often have the capacity to challenge power in ways that other groups cannot.
In May 2024, students occupied the Old College Quad for over a month. Later in November, Pro-Palestine protesters occupied the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library. These protests drew attention to the University’s continued delays to address calls for divestment from the Israeli military.
Additionally, an open letter released by the University of Edinburgh Amnesty International Society demanding that the University of Edinburgh immediately fully divest from Israeli-linked companies. While the 2024 protests led the university to establish a working group on investment policies, the extent to which this will result in concrete changes remains uncertain. Without continued pressure and accountability, such initiatives risk becoming symbolic rather than transformative.
Students in Edinburgh have the privilege of studying in one of the UK’s most politically active university cities. It’s a privilege that should drive us to create lasting movements, not waste it on protests that fade without change.
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