Identity issues and social divisions remain in focus two decades after Montenegro regained its independence

Two decades since the restoration of Montenegro's independence continue to raise questions of identity, social divisions, and political responsibility, said political theorist Feđa Pavlović and historian and civic activist Dževdet Pepić, speaking on the show "Colors of the Morning" on TV Vijesti.

Speaking about the twenty years since the referendum on May 21, 2006, Pavlović assessed that the "first democratic change of government" will be remembered as one of the most important events in the contemporary political history of Montenegro.

"That is certainly important and has great emancipatory potential. No major historical event is unambiguous, not even a referendum," said Pavlović.

He believes that the biggest obstacle to the development of Montenegro is "society's laziness", stating that citizens are aware of the problems, but that there is no willingness to actually solve things.

"We all know that the state administration is cumbersome and unsustainable, but everyone is trying to squeeze their children into that same administration. We are also aware that the quality of education is poor, but parents defend their children when they are caught cheating," said Pavlović.

He added that the political elite lacks both vision and political will.

"The political elite has realized that it is much easier to pander to social weaknesses than to change them," he said, adding that "everyone wants to be Zoran Đinđić, until they realize how unpopular he was because of his reform ambitions."

Pepić said that the restoration of independence was important, but that Montenegro is still not a state "in the true sense of the word."

"I would like Montenegro to become a state as defined by the first article of the Constitution. However, in our country, the Constitution is there to be violated and every government has violated it," said Pepić.

He believes that the key problem is the attitude of citizens towards the state and institutions.

"We live in a society where, if you are a minister or a director and you haven't 'caught' something, you are at least not normal," said Pepić, recalling the words of the late Miodrag Mirović: "For us, the state is our homeland, for them, it is property."

Pavlović assessed that the referendum should also be viewed as part of a broader geopolitical process.

"From 1998 to 2017, a major geopolitical realignment took place - we replaced Belgrade with Brussels, and Yugoslavia with the Western Balkans," said Pavlović.

Speaking about the future of Montenegro, he emphasized that the state must clearly define its interests within the European Union.

"We are too concerned with how we will enter the EU, as if that is the end of history. There is life after entering the EU. We must know what our interests are and how to defend them," he said.

Pepić said that it is crucial for the future to reduce divisions and develop the economy.

"The most important thing is that we stop looking for enemies in each other and finally start developing the economy," said Pepić.