EUROSCEPTICISM AS A FACTOR OF THE POLITICAL IDENTITY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Stekić, MA Nenad (Student-demonstrator, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Fakultet bezbednosti), nesteley@gmail.com

This paper aims at presenting the most notable academic debates on Euroscepticism, as well as presenting the results of public opinion research on European integration of the Republic of Serbia. Research questions to which this paper will offer potential answers are related to the involvement of Euroscepticism within the political identity of Serbian citizens in the context of current negotiations with the European Union. As a secondary source of data, the author will use the results of researches conducted for the Serbian European Integration Office, for the 2009–2017 period. The author will chronologically present development of public opinion concerning the Serbian membership within the European Union. Besides, factors which lead to continuous Euroscepticism in the Republic of Serbia will also be addressed. The conclusion of this paper suggests that there is a long-term and high-level existence of Euroscepticism of Serbian citizens, especially after the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was signed in 2008.

Keywords: Euroscepticism, political identity, European Union, Republic of Serbia, public opinion, European integrations, EU enlargement, Stabilisation and Association Agreement