One of the reasons students have been protesting in Serbia for months is the employment system. It’s a widespread issue, not only in Serbia, that party membership is often more important for getting a job than knowledge or qualifications. In return, political parties expect to gain loyal voters.
In the third quarter of last year, youth unemployment in Serbia stood at 21.5%. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, it exceeded 30%, while in North Macedonia it was 18%. Naturally, these alarming statistics have been noticed by the participants of the PERSPECTIVA show over the 10 years of its broadcasting. Here’s what Tadija, Lazar, Stefanija, and Suzana have to say:
“When you apply for a job, the first thing they ask is not what schools you’ve finished, not what kind of student you were, and not what kind of person you are. What matters most to them is your party affiliation and who your parents are.”
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/perspektiva-trebinje-posao/32355963.html
“People who are not party members are not given a chance. For example, I don’t feel there’s any real possibility for me to enter any structure within state institutions through a job competition since almost all positions are already filled by party members, and I am disadvantaged compared to young people who are members of a political party.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrWBYU_F9tU&ab_channel=RadioSlobodnaEvropa
“I don’t want to discuss politics because I don’t want to be part of it, but I know that nothing can be achieved in our country unless you’re politically active, or unless your father or mother is in a party. I don’t think that can be changed.”
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/perspektiva-kumanovo-mladi-politika-zivot/33214116.html
“I’ll only be able to find a job through a party, and I don’t want to go down that path.”
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/perspektiva-banjaluka-mladi-drzava-/32865157.html
Marija shares that because of the system of partitocracy, she feels silenced, while Vojislav claims he has no one to talk to.
“If I express any opinion that suggests I, subconsciously or consciously, support a political party, I risk my chances of finding a job. We are not allowed to voice our opinions because doing so could affect our employment prospects in the future.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQMaupUnJkQ&ab_channel=RadioSlobodnaEvropa
“I have no one to talk to in this town. Do you know why? Because only the worst come back, join a party and get jobs. Why should I socialize with those people? I’ll talk to them, but I won’t pretend it’s a good thing. It’s not. Everyone here who’s said that the situation here is good works in state-owned companies, and they all got jobs through party connections.”
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/perspektiva-mladi-trebinje-bosna-hercegovina/32346002.html
Does society have a future if it hires the obedient, and not the capable, Lazar asks?
“There is no meritocracy in this town. Jobs are not given to the most educated or capable individuals, but to those who are most active in promoting party interests. I come from the education field, and I believe that this system of partitocracy, especially in staffing, is disastrous for society. I think society has no future if this continues in the field of education.”
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/perspektiva-mladi-trebinje-bosna-hercegovina/32346002.html
In the last three decades, Serbia and North Macedonia have lost about a tenth of their populations, while Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen a loss of almost a quarter of its citizens. Approximately 60% of the population would leave the region if given the opportunity. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising to see young people protesting on the streets of Serbia for the past three months. They are capable. Those who are obedient may agree, but are keeping silent.
