The objective of this research was to examine the capacity development of local self-governments in the field of disaster risk management (DRM). This quantitative research examines the degree of implementation of strategic, legislative, and institutional frameworks, as well as the capacity of local authorities to apply related policies through five analytical scopes: (1) degree of preparedness and legal framework; (2) financial framework; (3) policy aspects; (4) cooperation and partnership; (5) communication. The ability of municipalities and towns to respond to disasters was also analyzed and compared. In this paper, our initial hypothesis was that the effective implementation of the concept of DRM policy in towns of Serbia requires the continual strategic, tactical, and operational transformation of the public administration and public management system in order to strengthen the capacity of local self-governments for disaster prevention, preparation, response, and recovery. This multimethod research was conducted over the period of 2014–2017 and included the following two target groups: (a) heads of disaster sectors in local self-government units (mayor) and (b) employees of the DRM sector in local self-government units. The results of this research will enable decision makers to successfully respond to challenges and help to improve the capacity of local self-governments and public local administrations within the scope of DRM in the Republic of Serbia, based on the principles of prevention and proactive action, coordination, cooperation, partnership, and responsibility.
The concept of community policing is based on constant consultations between the police and the local self-government and a complex system of preventative responses. A qualitative approach has been applied in a rural community based on the analysis of administrative documents from 2003 to 2011, direct observation and a survey examining the attitudes of 65 police officers who participated directly in the project implementation. The major findings include the existence of a centralized police model and traditional policing, the resistance of low and middle managers to change and the absence of continuous consultations between the police and local self-government.
Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine relations between police and vulnerable social groups in Serbia as a post-conflict society in transition. Design/methodology/approach -The research is based on a qualitative methodology that generated data from 13 round tables and focus groups. Findings -Although the attitude of the police is gradually changing, representatives of minority groups perceive that the police still hold preconceived stereotypes regarding some societal groups. In order for the police to gain the confidence of these minority groups, they must proactively seek to engage these groups more meaningfully. Institutions in Serbia have still not developed an appropriate strategy for dealing with minority group victims of violence. In addition to legal problems, there are those issues that are embedded within wider cultural stereotypes. Excessive centralization and the hierarchical structure of the police have tended to exacerbate relations between the police and minority communities. Members of these ethnic minorities therefore tend to view the perceived inappropriateness of responses to inter-ethnic incidents as being due to a number of causes. Research limitations/implications -Owing to the qualitative approach, the results are not easily generalizable, but they indicate the most important problems of Serbian policing regarding marginal social groups.Practical implications -This research may be a useful source of information for the Ministry of Interior in attempts to improve relations with minority groups. Originality/value -This paper reveals problems in relations between the police and vulnerable social groups and draws on the views of both minorities and the police. In Serbia, there is no similar research into this issue.
Summary: This paper analyses the changes in the legitimacy of the Serbian police in wider social and political contexts that occurred in the last two decades. The paper presents the analysis of the legitimacy of governmental/political authority and police in the Serbian academic community. Through the analysis of the social context and the empirical findings of surveys on the public opinion, the authors examined the delegitimization of the Serbian police during 1990-2000, and an attempt for its re-legitimisation after the launch of the reforms of the Ministry of the Interior in 2000. In this research, a survey was conducted on a sample of the students at the Academy of Criminalistic and Police Studies and the students at the Faculty of Security Studies of the University of Belgrade in order to determine how they perceive the legitimacy of the Serbian police. The attitudes of the students from the two faculties were compared after the survey results. In conclusion, the paper provides a review on possible perspectives of perceptions on the legitimacy of the Serbian police.
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