REUNIR Project | Expert Insights Series, 2nd Mid-Term Conference Highlights
We’re continuing our expert video series from the 2nd REUNIR Mid-Term Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia.
In this video, Jelena Pejic Nikic, Senior Researcher at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, discusses:
What role does public perception play in the pace of democratic reforms in the Western Balkans?
She explains that public perception is both a driver and an obstacle to reform. When citizens lose trust due to corruption, elite dominance, or superficial EU-aligned reforms, momentum for change fades, leaving space for polarising and often foreign-driven narratives.
However, Jelena highlights that public mobilisation around issues like labour rights, environmental protection, or the rule of law shows that when people believe change is possible, they act. Restoring public belief in democracy isn’t just a condition for reform, it is the reform.
Follow REUNIR for more expert insights from our conference series.
