A recent survey conducted by the Institute of Social Sciences (IDN) shows that 84 percent of supporters of student protests in Serbia back the idea of a general strike to press for the fulfillment of student demands. The research also highlights that 70.5 percent of respondents do not see any political party, whether in government or opposition, as capable of implementing their vision for the country’s social and political development.
The study, conducted between March 14 and 24, surveyed a total of 11,110 adult citizens across Serbia. However, IDN noted that the research sample was not representative as it was conducted online, excluding individuals who do not use social media platforms where the survey was available. As a result, the institute refrained from making broad conclusions about public opinion on the protests.
Danica Lazović from IDN clarified that the survey focused on key factors such as life satisfaction, economic conditions, respect for civil rights and freedoms, government performance, and personal security, which seem to influence public support for student and civil protests. Respondents expressing dissatisfaction with these areas were more likely to support the protests.
Interestingly, “interest in politics” did not appear to be a decisive factor in determining support for the protests. Instead, Lazović emphasized that questions on concrete challenges citizens face—such as the economy, civil rights, and security—helped reveal the tangible issues driving protest support.
Supporters of the protests most commonly showed their backing through physical participation in demonstrations, sharing information on social media, and signing petitions or letters of support.
The reasons behind the protests differed significantly between supporters and opponents. Supporters pointed to distrust in institutions, the need to hold responsible parties accountable for lost lives, and dissatisfaction with the state of society as the main motivators. On the other hand, opponents of the protests saw them as driven by foreign interference aimed at destabilizing Serbia, as well as politically motivated efforts to change the government.
Respondents who support the protests identified corruption, institutional mistrust, and crime as the most significant issues facing Serbia, while those who oppose the protests focused on the state of the education system and corruption as the primary problems.
Overall, the survey reveals a deep divide in how the protests and their motivations are viewed by the Serbian public.
