Reaffected, reengaged: Exploring new political mobilizations in Serbia

In recent years, we have witnessed the advancement of political disaffection and disengagement processes across nearly all European countries. Research indicates that this trend is also present in Serbia (Petrović & Stanojević, 2020). Findings from a 2018 study (Pešić et al., 2021) reveal a relatively low level of external and internal political efficacy among Serbian citizens, a low level of institutional trust, and moderate levels of political participation compared to other European societies. Building on these findings, this study aims to examine whether, five years later (2023), there have been changes in the level of protest-related political participation among Serbian citizens. The hypothesis underpinning this inquiry is that new forms of political mobilizations, involving emerging issues, such as environmental risks or pleas against violence, and a higher degree of emotional engagement, have led to an increased willingness among citizens to engage in direct political action. The analysis is conducted on the European Social Survey data (rounds 9 and 11), drawing on descriptive methods.