OTPOR SERBIA

Otpor Serbia

Otpor Serbia

Introduction

This paper intends to examine the organization Otpor Serbia that what cause the formation of this organization. Further, it explores the vision and objectives of this organization and that who are the members and why they joined this organization. In addition, what nonviolence tactics were used by them.

Otpor was a pro-democracy youth non-violent movement in Serbia who developed an intense campaign to oust Slobodan Milosevic in the year 2000. It was formed in October 10, 1998 in response to the repressive laws against the university approved during that year. Originally, Otpor's activities were limited to the University of Belgrade.

Organization While the Serbian political class was largely discredited and in exile, the movement Otpor was mainly developed outside the traditional structures of the opposition, led by young students in undergraduate and graduate schools, frequently members of the party Opposition. It was funded by Western organizations support a democracy: Freedom House and Open Society Institute.

Program The first objective was of course the overthrow of Slobodan Miloševic . The non violent movement subsequently aspired to bring Serbia closer to Western standards of respect of human rights, civil liberties, market economy and democratic institutions. It was finally the country out of its isolation, to fight against corruption and privatize the economy on an equitable basis.

Techniques The organization of movement, led by Srdja Popovic was characterized by a relatively flat hierarchical structure. This structure was a defense against repression: to limit the impact of the arrest of executives. It was also an application of the ideology of individual resistance nonviolent conveyed by Otpor (also see non-violent conflict), which is the theoretician Gene Sharp .

Before the fall of Miloševic, he had launched two simultaneous campaigns:

• "I Gotov" ("It is finished!") To denounce the regime with curved slogans on the walls of major cities in Serbia and protest marches.

• "It is time" to convince people to vote by organizing cultural events, meetings and organizing demonstrations in support abroad.

• First use of mobile phones and internet in one revolution.

Symbol The logo of the movement, a clenched fist on black background, is a parody of the symbol used by the Bolshevik regime.

History of the movement

Training In December 1989 Slobodan Miloševic was elected president of Serbia. In 1996 and 1997, there was a demonstration against election fraud in the system that failed because of a divided opposition. The regime's repression against freedom of opinion was growing, especially among students. In September 1998 eleven student organizations write the Declaration for the future of Serbia: Milosevic departure, the organization of free elections and restoration of civil liberties constitute the foundations. In October 1998, students from the University of Belgrade demanded the resignation of Dean, accused of being over the regime's repressive policies. The movement Otpor got his first political visibility after the arrest of four activists have painted black fists on the walls of buildings. After three months of protests, however, Dean is revoked, the movement gradually spread throughout ...