Militarization, State Capture and Contaminated Society – Case Study Serbia

The ruling political party, Serbian Progressive Party (SPP)2, very hierarchical- ly organized, with strong party discipline and managed by absolutely au- thoritarian role of the president of the party (and president of the Republic of Serbia), is the biggest party in Europe and the number of members was continually growing during the last ten years (about 10% of the total popu- lation). [...] The army is just a decoration to create an image of 2 The SPP is the largest party in the national parliament (42% of the MP), runs the govern- ment on the national level and all of local municipalities, and the party president is also the president of the state. [...] Public ex- posure of the army in any form, even in the form of a parade, is unnecessary.”6 What can be the function of this kind of militaristic populism, the propaganda and popularization of the army, uniforms, weapons…? Some of conclusions can be: a) To raise the political rating and political authority of the government. [...] In the case of state capture, the popularity of rulers is declining, while in a contaminated society, despite large social differences, increasing enrichment of the political elite, juridical insecurity, strengthening cor- ruption and diminishing all kinds of human rights and freedoms, the popularity of the ruler grows and the number of members of the ruling party grows. [...] Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic And Social Committee And The Committee Of The Regions.