Collective Voices in Times of Crisis: Reflections on the Student Protests in Serbia

The protests began on November 1st, 2024, following the collapse of the newly renovated railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people and injuries to dozens more. In the days that followed, students at the University of Novi Sad launched a blockade, catalyzing a wave of demonstrations that have since spread across the country.

On November 15th, citizens of Novi Sad initiated 14-minute silent vigils to honor the victims. The protests escalated after a violent confrontation with demonstrators at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade on November 22nd. What followed was an unprecedented mobilization: a full blockade of all public university faculties in Serbia, driven by students who declared they had no leaders, no official representatives—and that no single voice could speak for all.

This movement presents a unique challenge to the logic of representation and leadership. It invites us to consider: How does collective grief transform into action? What does it mean to refuse the symbolic order of authority? And how can psychoanalysis engage with such a moment of rupture?

In response, we will depart from the traditional single-voice lecture. This event will take the form of a group presentation, offering multiple perspectives to honor the complexity of the moment.