Contemporary Southeastern Europe 2026, 13 (2)

Media, Memory, and Framing: Interpreting Serbian Student Protests Through Serbian–Croatian Relations

This article analyzes the framing of student protests in Serbia by examining selected media coverage from Serbian and Croatian outlets. The findings reveal that the protests are framed in ways that reflect post-conflict imaginaries and the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two nations. The article situates these protests within a broader theoretical framework of post-Yugoslav media discourse, national identity construction, and symbolic geopolitics. It argues that student protests in Serbia should not be understood merely as domestic political events, but also as transnationally mediated spectacles, framed through the historical lens of Serbian–Croatian relations. The significant attention the protests receive in Croatian media underscores their importance for the dynamics of Serbian–Croatian relations. Using the TakeLab Retriever tool, the article provides quantitative data on the coverage of the Serbian protests in two online media outlets. Frame analysis reveals a notably favorable stance toward the protests within the Croatian media landscape examined. The article further explores the contrasting portrayals of the protests in opposition and pro-government media in Serbia, particularly in the context of Serbian–Croatian relations. Pro-government Serbian media consistently depict the student protests not as genuine expressions of domestic dissent, but as orchestrated efforts involving foreign actors, most notably Croatia. In contrast, opposition and independent media outlets in Serbia firmly reject allegations of Croatian interference, interpreting the government's narrative as a political strategy aimed at delegitimizing domestic opposition and diverting attention from the substantive demands articulated by the students.
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Davor Pauković

Davor Pauković

Davor Pauković is a full professor at the Faculty of Media and Communications, University of Dubrovnik. He teaches courses in contemporary world and Croatian history, as well as the history of political ideas and ideologies. His research focuses on memory studies and contemporary history, particularly the breakup of Yugoslavia, political transition, media, and Croatian-Serbian relations.
 

Marko Roško

Marko Roško

Marko Roško is a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Media and Public Relations, University of Dubrovnik, and a PhD student in Media and Communication at University North, Croatia. His research interests include political communication, journalism and online media, media framing, disinformation and fact-checking, and contemporary information disorder. He is particularly interested in media representations of political and socially contested issues.
 

Keywords:
Student protest Serbian–Croatian relations Historical narratives media framing

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