Sociologist: Serbia a Leader in Regressing, Government Uncontrolled

Ratko Bozovic (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

Ratko Bozovic, a sociologist, said that “progressing in regressing” was the state of affairs in Serbia’s democracy, freedoms and tolerance, and that political public was in absolute regression, reaching the dark zones, or a place that can be described as a stronghold of manipulation.”

Speaking at a round table debate on hate speech and misinformation in the media community, hosted by the Media Center on Dec. 28, Bozovic warned that government was out of control, and that “the very top of the political pyramid” was creating an atmosphere in the public and in the media full of hate speech and campaigns against individuals, setting the tone that lacks a language of peace, but celebrating conflict and intolerance.

In a comment on the situation in society, Bozovic said that the authorities had ideologically promoted the rule of autocratic leaders, mythologized phenomena and celebrated “the God on Earth.” They have also infantilized self-criticism by blaming anyone else but the leader, and ritual glorification of their own achievements is just as bad, Bozovic said.

The leading sociologist cautioned in his speech that the lack of critical public had completely blurred the reality, and that people living in Serbia’s interior “have no idea” what’s going on, being misinformed, tricked and living in fear. They have no democratic ideals – tolerance and non-violence – nor are they willing to embrace change against radicalism and extremism.