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#DemocracyDrinks: Elections, Legitimacy, and Protests in Serbia
30 April @ 17:00 - 19:00
Can Change Happen Within Distrusted Systems?
In many contemporary democracies, formal institutions continue to function while public trust in them steadily declines. This creates a fundamental tension: if citizens no longer believe in the fairness or effectiveness of elections, can those same elections still serve as a meaningful mechanism for change?
The situation in Serbia illustrates this dilemma vividly, as waves of student-led protests and broader civic mobilization following the tragedy in Novi Sad raise questions not only about political outcomes, but about the legitimacy of the processes themselves.
At the same time, this issue resonates beyond national borders, shaping debates within the European Union, and in countries like the Netherlands, about how to support democracy and rule of law in contexts where its core mechanisms are formally present but substantively contested.
This #DemocracyDrinks edition is organised in collaboration with The Serbian Diaspora in The Netherlands, where you will have the opportunity to engage in conversation with serbian students, the diaspora, and see a small exhibition from the protests.
Join us on April 30th (17:00-19:00) for the #DemocracyDrinks The Hague and engage with
- Olga Pantić: She is coordinator of the Marketing Centre at Novi Sad University working on political articulation, creation of political narrative and campaigns.
- Miloš Janjić: He is a freelance multimedia artist, dancer and cultural worker from Belgrade. Since 2019 he has been actively engaged in the functioning of the self-organised alternative cultural center Magacin.
- Ružica Jaćimović: She participated in democratic processes in the 1990s and later worked for the first democratic government. She brings both lived and professional perspective to the discussion, shaped by her long-standing engagement with democratic change.
What are the #DemocracyDrinks?
#DemocracyDrinks is an informal, recurring conversation and networking series bringing together people working on democracy, peace, justice, and democratic participation.
The format is intentionally simple: open, dialogue-led conversations in a relaxed setting. #DemocracyDrinks The Hague provides space to connect across sectors, test ideas, explore emerging questions, and reflect collectively on democratic challenges beyond formal panels or presentations.
Launched by Defend Democracy in Brussels in 2018, #DemocracyDrinks now takes place in cities around the world. Editions in The Hague have brought together a diverse mix of practitioners from NGOs, international institutions, think tanks, government, and civil society. The Hague series is co-organised by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), and The Hague Humanity Hub (THHH).
Register now! This link opens in a new tab
Interested in hosting your own edition? Apply here.
Photos – disclaimer.
Please note that a photographer and/or videographer may be present during #DemocracyDrinks. Images may be used by partner organisations for communication and promotional purposes, including social media and future event promotion. By attending, you consent to this use. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting democracydrinksthehague@gmail.com and specifying the event. Thank you for your cooperation!