Historian: Forcible Serbianization of Vojvodina Underway

Novi Sad, Vojvodina (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

Milivoj Besllin, a historian, cautioned on Dec. 21 that “the forcible Serbianization of Vojvodina” was underway, accusing Aleksandar Vucic’s regime of using ultranationalist groups as a “club” to destroy the pro-European and Euro-liberal idea – “the only true alternative to the authorities.”

Beslin said in an interview with Novi Sad’s VOICE portal that such extremist groups always flourished in Vojvodina, because the province “has been invariably perceived as an unreliable element.”

“Fascism tends to equalize things, conducting a violent Gleichschaltung, the term used in the Third Reich. Every form of diversity needs to be eradicated,” Beslin said. He added that “the Serbianization of Vojvodina is part of a more comprehensive strategy to foster a deep state, Serbia in this case. Serbia not only keeps Vojvodina subjugated, but the entire pro-European and autonomist movement in the province is constantly exposed to some kind of pressure.”

The historian expects Aleksandar Vucic to maintain a policy of isolationism, remaining aggressive “towards the states he believes are temporary, provisional arrangements, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and, perhaps, North Macedonia.” At home he’s certainly step up repression and ultranationalist rhetoric, Beslis said in the interview.