The security perception and security policy of Serbia

ABSTRACT

Serbia has important role in the regional peace and stability in South Eastern Europe. Over the last three decades Serbian security policies have been directly shaped by numerous turbulent political, social, and economic circumstances. In order the better to understand what determines the patterns of development and perceptions of Serbian security strategy and defence policies, a comprehensive overview of the legislative and institutional mechanisms of Serbian security and foreign policy in combination with content analysis of the key strategic security documents and analysis of the socio-political developments in Serbian society were conducted. After a period of confrontational discourse and abuse of the security system, the democratic changes in Serbia in the beginning of 2000s resulted with reforms in the security system as well. However, many of them were not undertaken systematically. Serbian security and foreign policy priorities are mainly determined by the EU accession process and the status of Kosovo.

KEYWORDS:

• Serbia
• security
• foreign policy
• reforms
• strategy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Aleksandar Vanchoski holds a BA degree in Criminlistics and Crimiology. He graduated at several master programs from the field of Law, Human Rights and Social Development. He also completed a specialization in Diplomacy. He has a strong interest for academia and scientific work and during his academic studies he completed study and research stays at several European Universities. He is an active member of Civil Society Sector in Macedonia and have participated in many project and research activities home and abroad.

Notes

1 Together with Montenegro, Serbia was a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between 1992 and 2003. After that, these two countries established the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 till 2006, when this loose state union ceased to exist, and both became independent states with respective proclamations of independence on 3 June (Montenegro) and 5 June (Serbia) 2006.

2 Gjorgje Popovic et al. eds., ‘Context Analysis of the Security Sector Reform in Serbia 1989–2009’ (Belgrade: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, 2011), 14.

3 Bogoljub Milosavljevic, ‘Reforme Obaveštajno-bezbednosnih Službi: Slučaj Srbije’ [Reforms of the Intelligence-Security Services: The Case of Serbia], in Prva Škola Reform Sektora Bezbednosti: Zbornik Predavanja, ed. Pavle Janković (Belgrade: Centarza Proučavanje Odbrane I Bezbednosti, G17 Institute, 2003), 98.

4 Prvoslav Davinic, ‘White Paper on Defence – Why?’, (Belgrade, 2005).

5 Vesna Pesic, ‘State Capture and Widespread Corruption in Serbia’, https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/state-capture-and-widespread-corruption-serbia/.

6 Dusan Pavlovic and S. Antonic, ‘Konsolidacija demokratskih ustanova u Srbiji posle 2000. godine’ [The Consolidation of Democratic Institutions in Serbia After 2000] (Belgrade: Službeni glasnik, 2007), 124–127.

7 Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, ‘Public perception of Serbia’.

8 Ibid.

9 Filip Ejdus and M. Savkovic, ‘Emergent Concept of National Security Policy in Republic of Serbia’, 1. http://www.cenaa.org/data/databaza/Ejdus-Savkovic.pdf.

10 Gjorgje Popovic et al. eds., ‘Context Analysis of the Security Sector Reform in Serbia 1989–2009’ (Belgrade: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, 2011), 33.

11 Ibid., 31.

12 Ministry of Defence, ‘Draft Text of the (New) National Security Strategy’, (Belgrade, 2017).

13 Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, ‘Nova strategija nacionalne bezbednosti i strategija odbrane – ključne promene I njihove posledice’ [The New National Security Strategy and Defence Strategy – Key Changes and Their Impacts], (Belgrade, 2018).

14 Ministry of Defence, ‘National Defence Strategy’ (Belgrade, 2009), 14.

15 Timothy Edmund and M. Miloševich, ‘Peacekeeping Contributor Profile: The Republic of Serbia’, http://www.providingforpeacekeeping.org/2014/04/03/contributor-profile-the-republic-of-serbia.

16 Serbian Armed Forces, ‘Review of the Engagement of the Serbian Armed Forces Members in Multinational Operations’, http://www.vs.rs/clanak/9F31727105F811E5ABAB00163E135070/pregled-angazovanja-pripadnika-vojske-u-mnop.

17 Ibid.

18 Ministry of Defence, ‘National Defence Strategy’ (Belgrade, 2009); Ministry of Defence, ‘National Security Strategy’ (Belgrade, 2009).

19 Timothy Edmund and M. Miloševich, ‘Peacekeeping Contributor Profile: The Republic of Serbia’.

20 Ibid.

21 Ministry of Defence, ‘National Defence Strategy’; Ministry of Defence, ‘National Security Strategy’.

22 Vincent L. Morelli, ‘Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations’ (Washington: Congressional Research Service, 2018), 10.

23 Ministry of Defence, ‘Draft Text of the (New) National Security Strategy’ (Belgrade, 2017).

24 Morelli, 10.

25 Popovic, 32.

26 Morelli, 13.

27 Igor Novakovic, ‘Od četiri stuba spoljne politike do evropskih integracija: postoji li volja za strateško usmerenje spoljne politike srbije? – Spoljnopolitički prioriteti, system donošenja i kontrole spoljnopolitičkih odluka Republike Srbije i usklađivanje sa Zajedničkom spoljnom i bezbednosnom politikom Evropske unije’ [The Four Pillar of External Policy to European Integration: There are volunteers for Strategic Orientation to External Policies of Serbia? Foreign policy priorities, system of adoption and control foreign policy decisions of the Republic of Serbia and Alignment with Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union] (Belgrade: ISAC Fund, 2013), 22.

28 Ministry of Defence, ‘National Defence Strategy’, 19–20.

29 Ibid., 19–20.

30 Ibid., 19.

31 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, ‘Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)’, http://www.mfa.gov.rs/sr/index.php/spoljna-politika/sbp/zbop?lang=lat.

32 Dijana Zugic, ‘What Does the IPAP Mean for Serbia’s Participation in Multinational Operations? Belgrade’ (Belgrade: Centre for Security Policy, 2017), 3.

33 Damir Ilic, S. Bulajich, and S. Tomich, ‘Management and Perspectives of Serbian Defence’ (Belgrade, 2015), 277.

34 Ministry of Defence, ‘Statement by Minister of Defence of Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin – 29 May 2018’, http://www.mod.gov.rs/cir/12629/novih-20-miliona-evra-slobodi-cacak-u-naredne-tri-godine-12629.

35 Ibid.

36 Ministry of Defence, ‘Statement by Minister of Defence of Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin – 01 January 2018’, http://www.mod.gov.rs/cir/12015/teleoptik-ziroskopi-ponovo-na-nogama-zahvaljujuci-investiciji-vlade-republike-srbije-12015.

37 Serbian Armed Forces, http://www.vs.rs/sr_lat.