[AK View] The Birth of a "Gen Z Government"... The Evolution of Student Movements

Serbia's general election on October 25 (local time) is drawing attention as a rare case of a change of government in world political history. The civic coalition Student List, led by university students rather than a political party, has secured a majority of seats and is poised to take power. It marks the birth of a "Gen Z government" (Generation Z: people born between 1997 and 2012).

This election is significant not only because students brought down the Vucic government, which had been in power for 12 years. They did not follow the traditional route of joining existing parties to enter politics. Not a single student who organized Student List ran as a candidate. Student List has no leader, either. Its candidates were selected by an internal council called the "Student Assembly." The list was made up of people with no political experience, including professors, doctors, economic experts and farmers. The reason Student List, which has neither a leader nor party status, could become the governing party lies in Serbia's election law. Under the law, civic groups can participate in elections by submitting a list of proportional representation candidates without forming a political party. All seats in Serbia are filled through proportional representation.

Supporters of Serbia's "Student List" gather in front of the National Assembly of Serbia at Nikola Pasic Square to celebrate their victory in the general election on the 26th of last month (local time). Yonhap News Agency

Student List began with street protests. The 2024 railway station collapse sparked anger over government corruption and poor governance. Students broadened their support by championing an agenda of "livelihoods and justice," including "a country where people can safely return home late at night" and "fighting corruption and restoring the rule of law." Serbia's student movement began with street protests but ultimately led to "taking control of the system through voting," marking a new milestone in the history of student and youth movements around the world.

The outcome of Serbia's general election has inspired student protests across Europe in recent months. Following France and Spain, a youth group called "Gen Z Will Fix It" held a rally in Germany on November 1. Protests by younger generations are rooted in a sense of relative deprivation and frustration over inequality between generations. This is also why South Korea must watch how young people's anxiety will manifest, given that, as of last year, the gap between the value of homes owned and occupied by the wealthiest and poorest 20% reached a staggering 300-fold. Serbia's student movement offers a stern lesson: protests alone cannot change the world; only organized participation in elections and the presentation of alternatives can bring about change.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.