'It was like fighting a war with our own people': anti-war activism in Serbia during the 1990s

Abstract

This article discusses anti-war and anti-nationalism activism that took place in Serbia and, particularly, in Belgrade during the 1990s. It analyzes anti-war activism as aiming to combat collective states of denial. Based on fieldwork research conducted in 2004 -05, and particularly on an analysis of interviews conducted with anti-war activists in Belgrade, this text closely analyzes the nuanced voices and approaches to activism against war among Serbia's civil society in the 1990s. The article highlights the difference between anti-war and anti-regime activism, as well as the generation gap when considering the wars of the 1990s and their legacy. Finally, this text emphasizes the role of Women in Black as the leading anti-war group in Serbia, and examines their feminist street activism which introduced new practices of protest and political engagement in Belgrade's public sphere.We are still far from understanding that there exist a whole range of layers of responsibility for the crimes committed: for remaining silent, for forgetting, for hatred, for media propaganda. The Responsibility for remaining silent includes both agreement and awareness of repressionbut also admits shades of doubt. (Papic 135; italics added)

“Too Young to Remember Determined Not to Forget”

“…I was able to document the shift that has occurred from antiwar activism to memory activism. The formation of alternative commemorative events, as I have previously shown, was established by members of the Women in Black, the first generation of memory activists in Serbia (Fridman, 2011(Fridman, , 2015. I approach the YIHR activists as the second generation of memory activists in Serbia, as I explore this generational shift and its meanings.…”

Peace formation from below: The “mirëdita, dobar dan!” festival as an alternative to everyday nationalism

“…323–366). “Albanian Women are Our Sisters” was one of their slogans on banners they would hold up during their silent vigils throughout their anti‐war protests in the 1990s (Fridman, ) . In the 2000s, the Women's Peace Coalition, which included the Women in Black activists and the Kosovo Women's Network, had a number of meetings aimed at “repairing the relations between Serb and Albanian communities in Kosovo” (Zaharijević, , p. 458).…”

Is additional conditionality preventing EU accession? Serbian democratic 'step back'

“…In the process of preparation for Europe, it must be "decontaminated" and its future status may be considered only after years of quarantine. (Fridman, 2011) The narrative of moral purification turned out to be the most dangerous one for the process of European integration of Serbia. Insisting on asymmetrical responsibilities of regional populations, after having defined citizens in the region primarily as "part" of the peoples and not as individuals, it is an automatic trigger for the national pride and the discourse of "injustice" done to the Serbs by the "great powers", including founding-countries of the EU.…”