Students have developed effective self-governance through student plenums or assemblies, where each student has the right to speak and all decisions are voted on. Ad hoc working groups are put in place to deal with various issues, from security and logistics to PR and legal questions.
The university occupations function without a discernable leadership, alternating the representatives who speak to the public. They are adamant about their autonomy, vocally distancing themselves from all political parties and party politics, as well as from established civil society organisations and even informal groups.
In doing so, they are creating a new political space and new means for the political to be enacted, breaking through the confines of ossified institutionalised politics and representative democracy.
[…] students in Serbia are fully controlling the institutions they have occupied while enjoying an overwhelming support of the public: around 80 percent of Serbian citizens support their demands.
All my support for the students and the Serbian working class, I was not aware of their conflict. The struggle reminds me of the Spanish 15M and, a bit, the US Occupy Wall Street. I hope they have better luck.
All my support for the students and the Serbian working class, I was not aware of their conflict. The struggle reminds me of the Spanish 15M and, a bit, the US Occupy Wall Street. I hope they have better luck.