Serbian elections

[Sayhey]

Yesterday Serbia held elections and the vote was not encouraging. The vote for ultra nationalists is a red flag that should alarm all people watching the developments in the Balkans.

The ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) won more seats than any other in Sunday's election.

Correspondents say it has little hope of entering government now, but its chance could come if reformers fail to create an effective coalition.

"I appeal to all democratic forces to work together in order to ensure that a new government based on a clear and strong European agenda can be formed rapidly," Mr Solana said.

With about 95% of votes counted, the SRS party and the Socialist Party of Serbia, both headed by men facing war crimes charges at the UN tribunal in The Hague, were on track to get 103 seats - of a total of 250.

Four pro-reform parties were expected to get the other 147 seats.

BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3355255.stm)

[zimv20]

it's fascinating that committing war crimes doesn't make someone unelectable

[JackStorm]

Yeah, not very good news. Things haven't been going very well since Prime Minister Djindjic died. Not that they were all that good before he died. Seems anti-U.S sentiment are so high around the world that things are actuly working in favor of extremists and fanatics. Kinda sad really.

[Sayhey]

In this case it is not only anti-US sentiments but also anti-EU, specifically anger towards the perceived anti-Serbian tilt at the war crimes tribunal. If the democratic forces in Serbia cannot put their differences aside and move their country towards the democratic standards of much of the rest of Europe, then the entire Balkans is in danger of renewed ethnic hatreds. I'm particular alarmed by Kostunica's idea of a minority government. Seems like settling old scores within the broader democratic movement might be his priority.

zim, I'm also surprised how war criminals have been able turn their trials into a nationalistic propaganda victory. I would read it as a broader inability of many Serbians to take responsibility for the ethnic cleansing done in their name. Are their no Serbian politicians who stand up and denounce these crimes?

[wwworry]

Serbian nationalism has a very long and robust history. I read a biography of Tito that went into some depth about Balkan history. It's quite complicated actually. Look up the history of the Bogomils, the Ottoman invasions, or how the Orthodox and the Catholic church interacted with the power struggles during WWII to see how complicated it can get. In fact look up the USTASHE - Croatian WWII fascists.

Slavko Kvaternik (the second in command to the Croatian WWII fuehrer, Dr Ante Pavelic) explained (on the day of formation of the WWII "Independent State of Croatia", on April 10, 1941) HOW PURE CROATIA SHOULD BE BUILT - by forcing one third of the Serbs to leave Croatia, one third to convert to Catholicism, and one third to be EXTERMINATED. Soon Ustasha bands initiated a BLOODY ORGY of mass murder of Serbs unfortunate enough not to have converted or left Croatia on time. THE ENORMITY OF SUCH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SHOCKED EVEN THE CONSCIENCE OF GERMAN COMMANDERS, but Pavelic had Hitler's personal support for such actions which resulted in the loss of the lives of hundreds of thousands of Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, the Ustasa regime organized extermination camps, the most notorious one at JASENOVAC where Serbs, Jews, Gypsies, and other opponents were massacred in large numbers.

The origins of Bosnian muslims come from Bogomil persecution and the protection offered by the Ottomans. This is just the smallest drop of information.

For instance Serbian/Orthodox ethnic cleansing is justified by Croation/Catholic ethnic cleansing during WWII. It just keeps going back and back, a real mind bend.

I feel like we are like little babies in terms of understanding this sort of history. Anyway, I am not saying Serbian nationalism is good or anything. Just a few subjects to read up on.

[Ugg]

Nationalism is on the rise around the world and I think it can be directly traced to the acceleration of globalization. There is so little that many countries or peoples can do in the face of the onslaught of the IMF, WTO or the USA, but what they can do is elect officials who are deemed to be on their side.

Serbia is an extreme example but one doesn't need to look far to see others. Europe, the US, Australia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia amongst others are littered with parties touting the return to pre-globalization ideals. It's very sad to see so many people support xenophobes, that is not the answer.