From 1990 to the present
Church and state in Serbia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14712625 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Radmila Radić (0000-0002-6264-6689, Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije, Beograd, Srbija, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 107-131 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Glasnik Etnografskog instituta (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0350-0861 • E-ISSN: 2334-8259 |
| Publisher | National Library of Serbia (PUBLISHER • RS) |
| DOI | 10.2298/gei2503107r |
| OpenAlex | W7123793096 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 7 |
The relationship between state authorities and the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has dramatically evolved since the early 1990s. Initially, the Church supported the Milosevic regime in the late 1980s to regain its social standing and promote Serbian national interests. However, as these ambitions became increasingly unattainable, the SPC recalibrated its stance, moving from alignment to open opposition to state authorities. With the advent of democratization in the 2000s, the dynamics began to shift anew, allowing the Church to expand its influence considerably in the public arena. Although the 2006 Constitution of Serbia established the secular state without an official religion, the SPC continues to play a crucial role in shaping public discourse, particularly on issues of national identity, asserting itself as one of the foremost institutions in the country. Political leaders recognize SPC?s moral and cultural authority, participate in church events, and seek church blessings for political initiatives to strengthen their legitimacy. The Church supports conservative and traditional values, opposes liberal social policies, and influences national legislation, education, culture, and social values. The long-term transition from communist rule to a more democratic and pluralistic environment has shifted the balance of church and state power in favor of the church
Communism · Constitution · Democracy · Democratization · Politics · Serbian · Balkans: History, Politics, Society · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious Freedom and Discrimination
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |