OTPOR Final

8/18/2019 OTPOR Final

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s(ccess$(l long-term non-*iolent campaign protest mo*ements that s"ept 7astern

7(rope in earl) 2'''s0

The +eginning stages o$ the mo*ement are consistent "ith the sit(ation in most

o$ Central 7(rope in the earl) to mi# 's0 The alkan states "ere not $aring "ell a$ter

the economic collapse that $ollo"e# the #issol(tion o$ So*iet /nion, an# the s(rge o$

nationalism that s"ept the co(ntries co(l# pro+a+l) +e characteri.e# as a #e$ense

mechanism against the i#entit) str(ggle 8+et"een Ser+s, osnians, Croats, l+anians9

that onl) seeme# to +e escalating0 The economic crisis an# #i$$erent nationalistic

agen#as res(lte# in rep(+lics o$ Slo*enia, Croatia, osnia-:ercego*ina, an# ;ace#onia

gaining in#epen#ence $rom the $ormer (gosla* $e#eration, e$$ecti*el) re#(cing it to

Fe#eral Rep(+lic o$ (gosla*ia consisting o$ Ser+ia an# ;ontenegro 8;ontenegro

"o(l# later #eclare in#epen#ence in 2''


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comm(nist era, as it ga*e him the chance to go on a cr(sa#e to #e$en# Bthe +or#ers an#

state so*ereignt)= o$ (gosla*ia, a sentiment that a lot o$ people s(pporte#0

One can trace the $irst see#s o$ Otpor mo*ement to the Ser+ian p(+lic o$$ice elections

o$ 1


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K& $orces, +(t also the ci*ilian pop(lation0 The h(man rights an# international la"

*iolations in Koso*o +) (gosla* militia attracte# a consi#era+le international attention

an# "hen negotiations $aile#, TO +egan the +om+ing o$ (gosla*ia0 Dhile the

(gosla* $orces "ith#re" $rom Koso*o as a res(lt o$ those +om+ings, the attack $aile# to

act(all) (n#ermine ;ilose*ic=s position "ithin the go*ernment #espite Ser+ian

pop(lation=s increasing #ispleas(re $or him0 2 There$ore, a *ia+le option that remaine#

$or /S an# 7(ropean po"ers to remo*e ;ilose*ic $rom po"er "as to pro*i#e $(n#s to a

gro(p o$ promising acti*ists0 This is "here ma6orit) o$ Otpor=s $(n#ing came $rom, an#

"hat ena+le# them to epan# their e$$orts o(tsi#e o$ elgra#e0 Channeling the mone)

thro(gh a local gro(p also remo*e# the coloni.er-coloni.er relationship, allo"ing

Destern states to take a +ackseat an# remo*e themsel*es $rom #irect inter*ention "hile

"aiting $or Otpor mo*ement to pla) o(t0

New Social Movement Theories in Contet of !ost"Communist Spaces

The str(ct(re o$ Otpor mo*ement, "hile in line "ith the #e*eloping social

mo*ements o$ the time, "as the $irst o$ its kin# in its region0 %n net section, %=m going

to #isc(ss why Otpor took the pioneering role o$ a re*ol(tionar) social mo+ili.ation an#

what $actors contri+(te# the +asis $or its speci$icities that "o(l# +ecome a template $or

others to $ollo"0 %n this section, %=# like to talk a+o(t the general changing nat(re o$ the

social mo*ements that scholars starte# i#enti$)ing #(ring the secon# part o$ the 2'th

cent(r), an# see ho" Otpor $its into the larger, internationall) ackno"le#ge# $rame"ork

o$ social action0

2Tristan &an#r)0 The Color #evolutions in the #earview Mirror$ Closer Than They appear%Cana#ian Sla*onic Papers, ol 530 o 10 2'11


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e" social mo*ement theor) emerge# as the response to classical ;arist anal)sis o$

collecti*e action that $aile# to eplain the changes in ho" an# "h) people mo+ili.e#0

Classical ;arism approach "as characteri.e# +) se*eral ina#e(acies that pre*ente#

this $rom happening0 First "as its emphasis on economic pro#(ction an# capital, "hich

it claime# "as the root o$ all politicall) signi$icant social action0 Secon#l), ;arist

approach to class str(ct(re an# relationships, "hich "as +elie*e# to +e the main

(ni$)ing $actor $or social gro(ps, neglecte# the importance o$ other social i#entities0 The

res(lting i#ea o$ a proletariat re*ol(tion marginali.e# all other $orms o$ social or

political protest0 There$ore, ne" social mo*ement theor) scholars aime# to i#enti$) an#

eplain other political, i#eological, or c(lt(ral incenti*es $or collecti*e action an# to

(n#erstan# other so(rces o$ collecti*e i#entit) s(ch as ethnicit), gen#er, etc03 (echler

i#enti$ies *ario(s applications o$ Bne" social mo*ement theor)=, an# as a res(lt he claims

the Bne" social mo*ement theories= is a +etter name $or it0 e" social mo*ement

theories are sets o$ i#eas that (ni$) the #i$$erent approaches to social mo*ements

+eca(se e*en tho(gh the) might all oppose the tra#itional ;arist approach,

in#i*i#(all) the) ma) place emphasis on #i$$erent #e$ining $actors0

(echler maps o(t se*eral o*erarching themes o$ ne" social mo*ement theories0

First, it=s the importance o$ s)m+olic action in c(lt(ral sphere that mirrors the

instr(mental action in the political sphere0 Secon#, ne" social mo*ement theorists, s(ch

as :a+ermas an# R(cht emphasi.e the importance o$ processes that c(lti*ate a(tonom)

an# sel$-#etermination instea# o$ strategies o$ maimi.ing in$l(ence an# po"er0

Similarl), others point o(t the goals consisting o$ post materialist *al(es as oppose# to

3 Ste*en ;0 (echler0 New Social Movement Theories% The Sociological H(arterl), ol 3


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material reso(rces0 Fo(rth, ne" social mo*ements *ie" the $ormation o$ a collecti*e

gro(p an# collecti*e i#entit) $or that gro(p as more complicate# than str(ct(rall)

pre#etermine#0 ;ost importantl), ne" social mo*ement theories recogni.e m(ltit(#e o$

temporar) net"orks that are at "ork #(ring a collecti*e action, rather than *ie"

centrali.e# organi.ation as the +ack+one o$ all s(ccess$(l mo+ili.ation0 The *ast arra) o$

points o$ emphasis #ictates the nee# $or pl(ral (n#erstan#ing o$ ne" social mo*ement

theories, an# it=s interesting to see ho" Otpor $its into this $rame"ork o$ s)m+ols,

i#entit), an# political timing0

&hy Now and &hy 'ere

The process o$ #emocratic transition in Ser+ia is interesting +eca(se o$ the speci$ic

political an# social +ackgro(n# that connects it to other co(ntries in the region0 The $act

that, in )ears $ollo"ing the collapse o$ ;ilose*ic=s r(le, similar t)pes o$ non-*iolent

re*ol(tions also occ(rre# in other states in the region ill(strates that there "as

something speci$ic in Otpor=s $orm(la that "as $ine-t(ne# to "ork "ith post-comm(nist

state iss(es0 %n this section, % "ill eplore ho" or "h) Ser+ia=s role as a h)+ri# regime

contri+(te# to the speci$icities o$ OtporI an# ho" that characteri.ation "as the trait that

connecte# Ser+ia to other co(ntries that $ollo"e# s(it in non-*iolent resistance0

Otpor=s s(ccess$(l campaign to remo*e ;ilose*ic $rom po"er "as not solel) the

res(lt o$ their contin(o(s e$$orts - it also o"e# a h(ge cre#it to the timing o$ these

e*ents0 The last #eca#e o$ the 2'th cent(r), lea#ing (p to Otpor=s initial protests, "as

instr(mental in setting (p the necessar) +asis $or a change in political regime0 The


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alternati*es o$ the regime - opposing parties an# the eisting ci*il societ) - contri+(te#

+oth to the etent o$ the regime, an# later to its #ecline in po"er0

Ser+ia #(ring the ;ilose*ic era can onl) +e #escri+e# as a h)+ri# regime, a term that

is o$ten (se# +) scholars to re$er to the partic(larl) pec(liar political sit(ation o$ the

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i#eologies an# as s(ch co(l# not present a (ni$ie# $ront to co(nter ;ilose*ic=s Socialist

Part), "hich "ent on to soli#i$) its #ominance0

ccor#ing to Florian ie+er, the opposition in mi#-1's co(l# +e gro(pe# into

three #istinct categoriesJ the etreme-nationalist, #emocratic national, an# re$orm-

oriente#0 The erratic lea#ership an# their *arie# position regar#ing the ongoing con$licts

o$ten res(lte# in changes $rom one categor) to the other0 For parties in the etreme-

nationalist categor), the Bsol(tion= $or the national (estion hel# priorit) o*er the

#emocrati.ation o$ the state0 >This neglect o$ the #emocrac),? "rites ie+er, >onl) le$t

s(ch gro(pings the options o$ 6oining the regime 8implicitl) or eplicitl)9 or +eing

marginali.e#?0

The #emocratic national gro(p com+ine# arg(a+l) the most important political

actors s(ch as Aemocratic Part) o$ Ser+ia, Aemocratic Center, an# Ser+ian Rene"al

;o*ement 8"hich "o(l# +e categori.e# as ra#ical nationalist i$ it ha#n=t reno(nce# its

etreme nationalist ten#encies a$ter the e$$ects o$ "ar in osnia starte# emerging90

Dhile the national (estion o$ten emerge# as an iss(e, these parties "ere more

intereste# in internal #emocrati.ation o$ Ser+ia0

The re$orm-oriente# gro(p, "hich incl(#e# parties s(ch as Ci*ic lliance o$ Ser+ia,

s(pporte# the pro-(gosla* agen#a0

The contin(ing #isassociation +et"een the opposition parties le# to the re-

str(ct(rali.ation o$ the make-(p o$ the opposition to the point "here their position in

regards to the main po"er +ecame the i#enti$ier o$ their t)pe0 The +reak(p o$ the 1E

a6e#no coalition mentione# a+o*e res(lte# in the $ormation o$ the radical opposition,

"hose mem+er parties re6ecte# an) cooperation "ith the regime, an# "hose onl) *ia+le

sol(tion $or the eisting po"er str(ggle "as a $(n#amental change in internal policies


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an# mem+ers0 %n an 1 inter*ie" "ith /reme 8Time9, a representati*e o$ ra#ical

opposition state# that the >iss(e o$ Koso*o pla)e# onl) a marginal role on the political

agen#a, "hile po*ert), corr(ption, #emocrati.ation, an# h(man rights, as "ell as the

ret(rn o$ Ser+ re$(gees an# the reintegration o$ (gosla*ia into international

organi.ations all "ere more signi$icant?0 The moderate opposition takes se*eral

#i$$erent $orms0 On one han#, it comprises gro(ps that ha# $(n#amental polic)

#i$$erences $rom the main regime, +(t "as rea#) $or cooperation "ith the main po"er0

On the other han#, there "ere gro(ps "ho "ere se*erel) against cooperation, +(t hel#

*ie"s similar to ;ilose*ic=s nationalistic positions0 ) the en# o$ the #eca#e, the

#)s$(nctional opposition an# $aile# attempts at creating a strong an# long-lasting

coalition against ;ilose*ic n(#ge# people to place their tr(st more into acti*e ci*il

societ)0 The $act that the a6e#no coalition, ma#e (p o$ #i$$erent opposition parties, "as

not a+le to maintain its moment(m #i*erte# p(+lic attention an# hope $rom political

parties to ci*il societ)0 7ssentiall), in the )ears lea#ing (p to the en# o$ ;ilose*ic=s r(le,

the citi.ens starte# pa)ing attention to ci*il societ) +eca(se the) ha# no ties "ith the

political $ig(res "ho eercise# po"er o*er the "hole #isco(rse0

%n a ne"spaper article +) Gillian San#$or#, Slo+o#an :omen, a )o(ng la")er "ho

"as one o$ the ke) $ig(res in the Otpor mo*ement, "as (ote# sa)ingJ >People are

s(pporting (s +eca(se "e are not a political part)0 De #o not $ight $or po"er0 De #o not

"ant to +e ;Ps0?4 %n#ee#, as Florian ie+er arg(es, rather than s(pporting political

parties citi.ens chose to +e acti*e in GOs an# other t)pes o$ ci*il societ) mo*ements

that g(arantee# peace$(l resol(tion0 The political arena pro*e# to rec)cle an# rotate the

same political actors o*er an# o*er, so the changes that "ere achie*e# thro(gh that

8Gillian San#$or#0 Children of the #evolution0 The Dorl# To#a), ol 5


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ro(te #i# not necessaril) ha*e an) real e$$ect on the citi.ens0 7ssentiall), the ci*il sphere

in Ser+ia gaine# tr(st an# +ecame s(ccess$(l +eca(se people reali.e# that political

actors "ere not "orth) o$ their s(pport0 The) nee#e# someone o(tsi#e o$ the s)stem

"hose main goal "as to remo*e the #ecision-makers "ho constantl) manage# to sta)

aro(n#0

New Methods

Otpor=s metho#s, "hich "ere non-threatening to the general pop(lation, "ere one o$

the largest selling points $or p(+lic s(pport0 The #ecision to achie*e s(ccess thro(gh

peace$(l means ha# #i$$erent aspects to it0 Firstl), it hel# *al(e as a gran# s)m+ol o$

Ser+s= a+ilit) to carr) o(t ci*ili.e#, s(ccess$(l protests that stoo# o(t against ;ilose*ic=s

*iolent approach to $ree#om o$ political speech, there$ore ac(iring a certain

per$ormati*e streak0 Secon#l), it also appeare# to +e the most pragmatic an# sensi+le

approach, as Otpor #i# not possess the n(m+ers or the $orce to stan# (p against the

$orces the) "o(l# ha*e to engage "ith ha# the) initiate# an) *iolence0

;oreo*er, the recent histor) o$ ci*il resistance "as not *er) hope-inspiring $or the

p(+lic0 s &an#r) mentions, the 14 el*et Re*ol(tion in Prag(e "as still $resh in

people=s min#s an# #eterre# them $rom #irect *iolent in*ol*ement "ith the regime0 The

images o$ st(#ent #emonstrations cr(she# +) arme# $orces ma#e it clear that attempts

at creating a $(ll #emocrac) "o(l# not go o*er lightl)0 Peace$(l nat(re o$ Otpor

alle*iate# those concerns0 The non-threatening tactics that the) emplo)e# manage# to

$l) (n#er the ra#ar long eno(gh to rall) ma6orit) o$ the p(+lic, a$ter "hich the

mo*ement +ecame too strong to sh(t #o"n $ast an# "itho(t serio(s reperc(ssions0

9&an#r), 2'110


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There$ore, Otpor=s (se o$ stickers, stencils, an# street per$ormances, sat(rate# "ith

h(mor an# satire, +ecame the largest contri+(tions to its pop(larit) an# tr(st-

"orthiness0 For eample, in preparation $or 2''' presi#ential elections, Otpor

mem+ers #istri+(te# more than t"o million stickers "ith a slogan >Goto* @e?, "hich

translates as >:e L;ilose*icM is Finishe#?0

;ichael ;(lka) 1' maps o(t a "a) thro(gh "hich "e can rationali.e h(mor an#

appl) it to the social "orl#0 ;(lka) i#enti$ies a serious mode, in "hich people ass(me a

share# "orl# "ith other people=s homogeneo(s perceptions o$ it0 %n it contra#ictions are

consi#ere# to +e illogical, a res(lt o$ the $ail(re to comm(nicate or a mis(n#erstan#ing

o$ one=s claims0 The) ha*e to +e treate# so +eca(se other"ise it challenges the notion o$

the Bsame= "orl# that e*er)one eperiences0 ;(lka)=s other mo#e is humorous mode,

"hich is +ase# on the i#ea o$ contra#ictions as the main principle o$ h(mor0 %n this case,

the #(alit) is "hat makes the thing am(sing0 s ;a6ken @(l Sorensen points o(t in his

st(#) o$ h(mor as a tool against oppression, e*en in its most aggressi*e mani$estations,

h(mor signals innocence0 >:(mor changes the sit(ation +eca(se ho"e*er serio(s the

message is, it has a hint o$ BAon=t take me serio(sl),= an# B%=m not Aangero(s0=?11 For

Otpor, this not onl) ens(re# the appeal o$ the general p(+lic as a non-threatening "a) o$

operations, +(t also #elegitimi.e# an) $(t(re attempts +) the regime to la+el the

protesters as terrorists an# anarchists0 %t pre*ente# people $rom serio(sl) listening to

;ilose*ic=s attempts to paint the Otpor protesters as a threat to their peace an# sec(rit)0

ll Otpor seeme# to +e #oing "as rall)ing the p(+lic thro(gh their (se o$ satire, an# it

(ickl) +ecame apparent that claiming those actions to +e o$ the Bterrorist kin#= "as

10;0 @0 ;(lka)0 )n 'umor$ Its Nature and Its !lace in Modern Society% Polit) Press, 1440

11;a6ken @(l Sorensen0 'umor as a Serious Strategy of Nonviolent #esistance to )ppression0Peace N Change, ol 330 o 20 2''4J p1E1


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a+s(r#0 Otpor=s satirical tactics incl(#e# caricat(res o$ political $ig(resI posters "here

the organi.ation "as portra)e# as an innocent chil# against the scar), #ramati.e#

*ersions o$ ;ilose*ic an# his s(pportersI lea$lets "ith h(moro(s rh)mes, etc0

7ssentiall), Otpor=s h(moro(s tactics in$l(ence# the mo+ili.ation o$ p(+lic, an#

strengthene# the c(lt(re o$ resistance0 %n the "aking $ear o$ pre*io(sl) attempte#

re*ol(tions in 7(rope 8eampleJ Prag(e 149, an# recent TO +om+ings #(e to the

Koso*o con$lict, h(mor "orke# as a catal)st $or a (ni$ie# $ront0 On the most +asic le*el,

it pro*i#e# $or the p(+lic the satis$action o$ 6a++ing $(n at the political lea#ers "ho

seeme# so (nto(cha+le0 Sorensen collecte# personal inter*ie"s "ith Otpor mem+ers in

earl) 2''Lthere "asM an atmosphere o$ a+sol(te $ear, an# e*er)thing "as #estro)e#

Lin TO +om+ingM an# this is reall) "here h(mor came into the pict(reJ o( co(l#n=t

pers(a#e an)one, in this kin# o$ atmosphere in the co(ntr), )o( co(l#n=t pers(a#e

an)+o#) that something co(l# +e change#, that something sho(l# +e change#0 Dith

(sing #i$$erent s)m+ols, #i$$erent narrati*es, Otpor s(ccee#e#0 n# then there "as the

energ) it "as some"here there, )o( co(l# $eel it, it "as 6(st to trigger it LM People "ere

reall) *er) eager to change things, )o( 6(st nee#e# something to "ake them (p an#

make them acti*e again0? 12

The image o$ political $ig(res mostl) inspire# $ear, an# h(mor +ro(ght that image

#o"n0 Partl), it ri#ic(le# the regime actors an# (ni$ie# people in la(ghing at them0 s

one protester recalls, >h(mor "as something like the main thing that +ro(ght

L;ilose*icM #o"n, +eca(se people "ere a$rai#, there "as $ear e*er)"here aro(n# an# i$

"e are going to change something, the main i#ea "as to make $(n o$ the things that

12Sorenson, 2''4J p1E


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make them a$rai# LM to make people less a$rai# +) (sing h(mor?130 The tactics "ere not

necessaril) $(nn), tho(ght0 @an6ira Som+atpoonsiri #escri+es one $amo(s inci#ent o$

s(+tle iron) in her +ook 'umor and Nonviolent Struggle in Ser(ia0 ;ira ;arko*ic, -

;ilose*ic=s "i$e an# hersel$ the lea#er o$ the (gosla* &e$t Part) - "as (ote# sa)ing

that >a lot o$ +loo# ha# +een she# $or the intro#(ction o$ comm(nism into (gosla*ia

an# it Lthe Comm(nist Part)M "o(l# ne*er go La"a)M "itho(t +loo#0?1 She "as

threatening (se o$ *iolent $orce against protesters0 %n response, Otpor mem+ers set (p a

+loo# #onation campaign, collecting real h(man +loo# that the) mockingl) presente# to

;arko*ic=s hea#(arters, asking i$ the Comm(nist Part) co(l# please go no" that the)

ha# their +loo#0 ot onl) #i# this action $acilitate in*ol*ement, it also t"iste#

;arko*ic=s o"n "or#s against her, ri#ic(ling her in p(+lic=s e)es0

nother a#*antage o$ h(mor as a tool $or resistance "as the $act that #(e to its

nat(re, these tactics also limite# the "a)s the go*ernment co(l# 6(sti$ia+l) react0

asicall), it #i# not lea*e man) options o$ *iolent inter*ention $or ;ilose*ic=s regime, as

this "o(l# seem like the most etreme o*er-reaction to something as innocent as a

cartoon or caricat(re 8altho(gh it has to +e note# that in earlier )ears, most o$ the

protests "ere met "ith arme# police resistance, an# (p to 2''' st(#ents "ere arreste#90

%n Septem+er o$ 2''', the secret police rai#e# Otpor=s hea#(arters in elgra#e an#

con$iscate# e(ipment s(ch as printers, comp(ters, posters an# stickers rea#) $or

#istri+(tion0 The operation "as #(++e# B/nloa# 2'''= +) its *ictims, an# "as

co(nteracte# +) B&oa# 2'''=, "here the) intentionall) leake# in$ormation a+o(t

incoming e(ipment an# materials to replenish their central o$$ice=s capa+ilities0 s

13Sorenson, 2''4J p14'

14@an6ira Som+atpoonsiri0 'umor and Nonviolent Struggle in Ser(ia% S)rac(se St(#ies onPeace an# Con$lict Resol(tion, 2'150


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pre#icte#, police arri*e# to con$iscate the incoming s(ppl) an# s(rro(n#e# Otpor

mem+ers "ho "ere carr)ing "hat appeare# to +e sets o$ hea*) +oes into the +(il#ing0

;(ch to their #islike, mem+ers o$ Otpor "ere $orce# to s(rren#er their +oes0 (t "hen

policemen attempte# to pick the hea*) +oes (p an# mo*e them, the) $o(n# them to +e

completel) empt) or $ille# "ith ne"spaper scraps0 The policemen +ecame the

la(ghingstock o$ the onlookers an#, (na+le to respon# in an) other "a), all the) co(l#

#o "as s"ear at each other an# at the secret police=s $ail(re to pro*i#e relia+le

in$ormation015 1


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tri*iali.e# the acc(sations o$ terrorism thro(gh h(moro(s, o*er-eaggerate#

per$ormances that ill(strate# ho" incompati+le these acc(sations "ere "ith realit)0

>This is the kin# o$ terrorists "e are,? "as proclaime# +) the gro(ps coor#inator

la#imir ;aro*ic a$ter the march thro(gh the streets1E0

These eamples ill(strate another *er) important aspect o$ Otpor that #e$initel)

ma#e it har# to +(il# a resistance to the mo*ement - its #ecentrali.ation thro(gho(t

Ser+ia0 ll these #i$$erent stories come $rom *ario(s to"ns an# cities across the co(ntr)0

These net"orks o$ Otpor h(+s across small to"ns o$ Ser+ia ga*e Otpor cre#i+ilit) "ith

the local pop(lation, as the) o$tentimes personall) kne" people in*ol*e# "ith the

mo*ement0 S(ch nat(re o$ small to"n comm(nities ens(re# that go*ernment

acc(sations o$ Otpor mem+ers +eing state traitors an# terrorists "o(l# not ha*e m(ch

gro(n#0 >%$ )o( are $rom a small to"n people kno" )o(0 Some mem+ers ha*e parents

"ho "ork in the police0 Some "ork $or the arm)0 n# i$ )o( kno" someone $rom

primar) school, it=s *er) #i$$ic(lt to +elie*e claims that he is a terrorist - or to claim that

)o(rsel$,? sai# Slo+o#an :omen, a )o(ng Otpor acti*ist, in an inter*ie" "ith Gillian

San#$or#014

The #ecentrali.ation "as partiall) a res(lt o$ a conscio(s #ecision to a+stain $rom

ha*ing an o$$icial lea#er to the mo*ement - a trait that has +ecome common in mo#ern

acti*ist gro(ps0 s Otpor mem+ers themsel*es eplaine# in inter*ie"s presente# in a

+ook !eople !ower01, #e-centrali.e# lea#ership $or the mo*ement ha# a practical reason

+ehin# it0 %t "as an ans"er to a realistic threat o$ remo*al an#or imprisonment o$ a

17Som+atpoonsiri, 2'150

18San#$or#, 2'''0

19:o"ar# Clark, !eople !ower% Chapter 4 >Ser+ia - on*iolent Str(ggle $or Aemocrac)J TheRole o$ Otpor? +) A0 ena#i, 0 elQie*i0 Pl(to Press, 2''0


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possi+le Otpor lea#er, "hich "o(l# not +e (nhear# o$ insi#e the militant regime the)

"ere opposing0 cti*ists claime# Otpor "as +ase# on an Bin*isi+le str(ct(re=, "hich

"o(l# (n#ergo occasional changes in or#er to a*oi# in$iltration0 :o"e*er, as ena#i

an# elQie*i arg(e, it "as speci$icall) its #ecentrali.e# nat(re that manage# to mask

Otpor=s internal "orkings so "ell0 ranches thro(gho(t Ser+ian to"ns "ere

a(tonomo(s, an# ha# po"er to plan an# carr) o(t their o"n acts o$ resistance #esigne#

speci$icall) to $it local circ(mstances0 Dhile the) hel# the same *al(es an# stance,

#i$$erent to"ns ehi+ite# #i$$erent t)pes o$ satiric per$ormances as #escri+e# a+o*e0

Dith this came #i*ision o$ la+or "ithin the mo*ement, as each h(+ o$ Otpor mem+ers

ha# their o"n sectors $or $inance, management, logistics an# PR0

+enerational Advantage and Transnationality

Otpor, as a ne" t)pe o$ social mo*ement, mo*e# a"a) $rom the accepte# notion that

main so(rce o$ opposition comes $rom the "orking class an# "as more in line "ith the

st(#ent-r(n protests that took place across the "orl# in 1


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o$ monitoring the ongoing #emocratic processes in post-;ilose*ic Ser+ia0 Their

rep(tation o$ non-*iolent resistance an# ci*ic engagement sprea# o(tsi#e o$ the

+o(n#aries o$ Ser+ia, an# )o(th gro(ps in co(ntries s(ch as elar(s, /kraine, Georgia

an# e*en 7g)pt "ere looking (p to them as a s)m+ol o$ s(ccess$(l non-*iolent

re*ol(tion0 o(th in /kraine an# Georgia "ere inspire# to $orm their respecti*e

mo*ements, !ora 8%t=s Time9 in /kraine an# 2mara 87no(gh9 in Georgia0 The $act that

the main #ri*ing $orce +ehin# these mo*ements "ere all chil#ren o$ same political

generation she#s light on man) similarities +et"een the mo*ements, an# can +e (se# to

eplain the scope o$ Otpor=s in$l(ence across the +or#ers0

ikola)enko #e$ines a political generation as >a gro(p o$ in#i*i#(als "ho ha*e

(n#ergone the same +asic historical eperiences #(ring their $ormati*e )ears?210 %n case

o$ Otpor, the $ormation o$ post-So*iet generation "as #irectl) a$$ecte# +) the collapse o$

Comm(nism an# s(+se(ent social trans$ormations that ga*e contet to their i#entit)0

These e*ents eperience# #(ring their $ormati*e )ears ha*e a lasting impact on a

generation, an# mani$est themsel*es in its political aspirations0 Dithin this $rame"ork,

it +ecomes eas) to (n#erstan# "h) Otpor=s s(ccess co(l# inspire )o(th in Georgia an#

/kraine, "hose $ormati*e )ears "ere +ase# in *er) similar political an# historical

contet o$ $inal )ears o$ So*iet /nion, to mo+ili.e an# resist as "ell0 This is a case "here

an initiator mo*ement, in this case Otpor, sets prece#ent $or the rise o$ s(ccessi*e

mo*ements thro(gh cross-national #i$$(sion o$ i#eas0 22

Right a$ter the Ser+ian re*ol(tion, mem+ers o$ Otpor $o(n#e# the Centre $or on-

*iolent Resistance "ith a goal to +ring together acti*ists "ho took part in the mo*ement0

21ikola)enko, 2''E0

22ikola)enko, 2''E0


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These "ere )o(ng, technologicall) sa**), (ni*ersit)-e#(cate# people "ith #irect

eperience o$ ci*il resistance0 This $ormation $acilitate# a contin(ation o$ an e$$ort +)

Destern states to remo*e $ormer So*iet go*ernment o$$icials $rom po"er in post

comm(nist co(ntries "itho(t #irect in*ol*ement on the gro(n#0 %nstea# o$ that, it

allo"e# /krainian an# Georgian mo*ements to #irectl) interact an# learn $rom acti*ists

"ho alrea#) ha# a s(ccess +ehin# their +ack 230 %n $ollo"ing )ears, the Centre $or on-

*iolent Resistance transmitte# its kno"le#ge to 7astern 7(ropean states0 n eperience

o$ s(ccess$(l re*ol(tion ga*e them cre#i+ilit) an# respect, so Otpor took on a role o$ a

Bg(ar#ian=, an# pro*i#e# trainings to #i$$erent )o(th an# st(#ent gro(ps0 s s(ch, a$ter

achie*ing its initial goals, Otpor trans$orme# into "hat can +e categori.e# as a tr(est

$orm o$ a translational social mo*ement, an# +ecame an integral carrier o$ *al(es in a

no" o*erarching s)stem o$ social acti*ist gro(ps0 Keck an# Sikkink #e$ine transnational

a#*ocac) gro(ps as those that >+(il# ne" links among actor in ci*il societies, states an#

international organi.ations, th(s m(ltipl)ing the opport(nities $or #ialog(e an#

echange?20 %n a manner *er) m(ch similar to this, Otpor=s actions lea# to s(ccess$(l

connections +et"een gro(ps in se*eral #i$$erent states0 The gro(ps that the) coache# in

non-*iolent acti*ism - s(ch as (+r in elar(s, Kmara is Georgia, Pora in /kraine - later

+ecame central actors in 7aster 7(rope=s Color Re*ol(tions0 7*en their names +ear

Otpor=s in$l(ence - the) all are #i$$erent translations o$ "or#s along the lines o$

>eno(gh?, or >resist?0 The) ill(strate the B+oomerang e$$ect= o$ transnational acti*ism - a

phenomenon "here gro(ps in their home states seek o(t Otpor=s s(pport an# a#*ice

a$ter their initial attempts to engage in #isco(rse "ith their go*ernments $ail0

23&an#r), 2'11

24;argaret 70 Keck, Kathr)n Sikkink, Transnational and Advocacy Networks% 1


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s h)+ri# regimes, states o$ /kraine an# Georgia, m(ch like Ser+ia, re*ol*e# aro(n#

certain #emocratic instit(tions "hile apparatchiks retaine# a hol# on most o$ the

political proce#(res0 Parliamentar) an# presi#ential elections, "hich "ere (n#er their

control, pro*i#e# an incenti*e to mo+ili.e to"ar#s a speci$ic ca(se - Goto* @e, lea#ing

(p to 2''' presi#ential elections in Ser+ia, "as the last an# most signi$icant act o$

mo+ili.ation, calling $or participation in polls0 Similarl), $ormation o$ Kmara in Georgia

coinci#es "ith 2''3 parliamentar) elections that people hope# "o(l# pro*i#e a

#epart(re $rom a(tocratic regime0 /krainian Pora $orme# a )ear +e$ore 2''

presi#ential elections, "ith eno(gh time to mo+ili.e an# pre*ent the installment o$ a

s(ccessor presi#ent thro(gh $ra(#(lent elections0 %n their "or#s, the mission set $or

them "as to >pro*e to the r(ling political elite that the po"er it gets $rom people is not

gi*er $ore*er an# pro*e to the citi.ens that the) ha*e eno(gh po"er in their han#s in

or#er to channel the #e*elopment o$ their co(ntr) in the #irection the) nee#0?25

nother (ni$)ing $actor "as the $ailing e#(cational sector in post-So*iet states0 The

resistance to the /ni*ersit) &a" "as the $irst ma6or $(el $or Otpor0 Similarl), higher

e#(cation in /kraine an# Georgia "as (n#er the control o$ the go*ernment0 :ighl)

centrali.e# e#(cational s)stem allo"e# (ni*ersities to come (n#er press(re o$ eisting

regimes, an# increase# st(#ent #issatis$action "ith their respecti*e go*ernments0

Otpor=s (se o$ iron) in their tactics "as mimicke# +) similar (se o$ s)m+olisms in

Pora an# Kmara0 Pora integrate# an image o$ an egg into their propagan#a a$ter an egg

thro"n at presi#ent-to-+e, an(ko*ich, #(ring his election to(r res(lte# in his

hospitali.ation0 Kmara $ollo"e# the s(it o$ Otpor an# incorporate# a s)m+ol o$ raise#

$ist against +lack +ackgro(n#0 Dith me#ia +eing (n#er strong control o$ the

25ikola)enko, 2''E0


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go*ernment, these mo*ements relie# on #irect contact "ith people achie*e# thro(gh

rallies, street per$ormances, an# organi.e# concerts0 Training pro*i#e# +) Otpor

acti*ists in$l(ence# +oth Kmara an# Pora=s approach to ci*il resistance, an# $orme#

speci$ic tactics o$ acti*ism $or post-So*iet generation to emplo)0

Conclusion

The Goto* @e campaign "as the last ma6or p(sh against ;ilose*ic=s regime0 Prior to

the presi#ential elections in Septem+er o$ 2''', eighteen opposition parties $orme# the

Aemocratic Opposition o$ Ser+ia coalition, "ith o6isla* Kost(nica as their can#i#ate0

Dhile the in#epen#ent so(rces "ere reporting a ma6orit) "in $or the #emocratic

coalition, $e#eral go*ernment state# that no part) manage# to "in re(ire# ma6orit)0

The response "as state"i#e, an# marke# the +eginning o$ (ll#o.er Re*ol(tion that

"o(l# later inspire Color Re*ol(tions o$ 7astern 7(rope0 The coalition calle# $or a

general strike, "hich starte# "ith miners "ho pro#(ce# most o$ electricit) s(ppl) $or

Ser+ia0 Otpor s(pporte# the coalition +) arranging roa#+locks across ma6or roa#s an#

e$$ecti*el) +ringing the co(ntr) to a stan#still0 On Octo+er 5, 2''' h(n#re# o$

tho(san#s o$ people marche# onto the +(il#ing o$ the parliament, an# ;ilose*ic "as

$orce# to resign se*eral #a)s later0 This marke# the en# o$ the $irst s(ccess$(l, non-

*iolent re*ol(tion in a post comm(nist state - an e*ent that set a prece#ent $or co(ntries

in similar political contet, an# inspire# )o(th gro(ps to engage in ci*il resistance0

Otpor pla)e# the most cr(cial role in remo*al o$ ;ilose*ic=s regime - it (nite# an#

mo+ili.e# pop(lation that "as paci$ie# an# scare# o$ speaking o(t0 %t emplo)e# tactics

o$ h(mor an# peace$(l resistance in or#er to make itsel$ more appealing to the p(+lic

e)e, an# #istance itsel$ $rom the political actors "ho "ere $ailing the tr(st o$ the


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pop(lation0 A(e to it +eing $irst in line o$ Color Re*ol(tions that $ollo"e#, eamination

o$ Otpor=s tactics an# nat(re o$ other $actors contri+(ting to its s(ccess not onl) tells (s

more a+o(t political an# social sit(ation in late 1's Ser+ia, +(t also starts to eplain

the transnational c(lt(re o$ non-*iolent resistance that it create# in other 7astern

7(ropean co(ntries0

References:

• F0 ie+er, The Ser(ian )pposition and Civil Society$ #oots of the *elayed Transition in

Ser(ia0 %nternational @o(rnal o$ Politics, C(lt(re an# Societ), ol 1


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George Dashington /ni*ersit), 2''


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• ;0 70 Darren, *emocracy and Association00 Princeton /ni*ersit) Press, 2''10

OTPOR Final

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