As part of the program commemorating the 25th anniversary of the October 5th democratic changes, the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory hosted an evening open discussion on Friday, October 3, 2025, titled “What Does October 5th Mean to Us Today?”
The discussion brought together students from universities in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš, participants in the current protest movement. They debated the social memory of the October 5th changes and the broader student movement of the 1990s, their significance for new generations, the similarities and differences in relation to today’s socio-political context, and the lessons that can be drawn from that period. Special attention was given to parallels between past and present forms of civic activism, as well as contemporary issues facing student and civil movements. The discussion attracted strong interest and many questions from the audience. The conversation was moderated by Tara Tepavac, researcher at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory.
Through a full-day program, the Institute marked a quarter-century since the events that ushered in a new political era in contemporary Serbia. The public portion of the program was preceded by an international academic workshop, “Disputed Elections in the 21st Century”, and a doctoral student panel on contested elections.