PROJECT TITLE
Social Relations Between Ethnic Communities in Serbia – 2020
RESEARCH FIELD
Ethnic distance
PROBLEM
Since 2002, the Republic of Serbia has been developing institutional mechanisms to protect national minorities, including constitutional and legal frameworks as well as public policies. However, there are still major gaps in understanding the real position of national minorities. There’s a lack of reliable data on their experiences, perceptions, and expectations regarding the exercise of their rights and their level of social inclusion. Without this information, it’s difficult to assess the effectiveness of current policies or to pinpoint what needs to change. This research aimed to address those gaps and provide a deeper analysis of integration processes in a multiethnic society.
RESEARCH
The study was conducted by the Center for Ethnicity Research and the Institute of Social Sciences, with support from the Open Society Foundation. It focused on examining social relations among ethnic communities and the realization of minority rights in Serbia.
The main goal was to explore how connected people feel across ethnic lines, and whether there is room for the development of a genuinely multicultural society. The study looked at the relationships between the majority Serbian population and seven national minorities (Albanians, Bosniaks, Croats, Hungarians, Roma, Romanians, and Slovaks), but also examined dynamics within minority groups themselves. The research was structured into four main thematic areas:
- Frequency and intensity of social contact
- Degree of social distance
- Perceived social separation
- Social roles and the place of ethnic communities in the broader social context
In addition, the study addressed the implementation of minority rights, the role of national minority councils, integration potential, and everyday experiences of discrimination.
Methodologically, the research combined online surveys with fieldwork, including face-to-face interviews and focus groups with members of minority communities. Questionnaires were translated and adapted to each minority language, ensuring greater inclusivity and more accurate data collection.
RESULT
The research revealed that interethnic social distance in Serbia remains significant, particularly in how the majority population perceives Albanians and Roma—these two groups are seen as the least acceptable when it comes to forming friendships, family ties, or entrusting important public roles. While over 90% of minority respondents reported having contact with Serbs, this was not equally reciprocated, far fewer Serbs said they had friends or family ties with minority members, especially Albanians and Roma.
There was also a noticeable gap between individuals’ personal attitudes and their perceptions of their community’s attitudes, people tend to believe that others in their community hold more negative views than they do themselves, indicating widespread prejudice and low levels of mutual trust.
Trust in people from other ethnic groups to perform important social roles (such as mayor, doctor, or teacher) was generally low, especially when it came to Albanians. Trust was slightly higher for more localized roles (like local doctors or teachers), but still varied based on ethnic affiliation.
While national minority councils are legally important institutions, they are generally not perceived as effective. Most minority members expressed dissatisfaction with their performance, except among the Hungarian minority, where 60% reported supporting their council.
Discrimination takes various forms and is still a part of everyday life for many minorities. Dissatisfaction with the implementation of cultural, educational, and language rights points to a clear need for policy reform.
Overall, the research shows that ethnic relations in Serbia continue to be shaped by mistrust, stereotypes, and limited interaction. Still, there are signs of potential for integration, especially in communities where everyday cooperation and ethnic diversity are more common.
