Abstract: “The Silent Genocide of the Village” – Periša Reljić
This paper analyzes the profound demographic, economic, and social erosion of the Serbian village over the past decades. The author employs the term “silent genocide” to highlight the systematic neglect of rural areas, asserting that it is not a result of natural processes, but rather a consequence of flawed state strategies and aggressive urbanization.
Key points of the paper include:
- Demographic Collapse: The emptying of villages, an aging population, and the disappearance of family farms.
- Economic Marginalization: The disadvantaged position of primary producers compared to the processing industry and retail chains.
- Loss of Cultural Identity: The vanishing of a traditional way of life that served as a pillar of national stability for centuries.
- Ecological Consequences: Land abandonment leading to the degradation of natural resources.
Reljić concludes that rural recovery is a matter of supreme national importance, requiring a radical shift in agrarian policy and the revitalization of rural infrastructure to halt a process leading toward the complete extinction of rural Serbia.
First time published: February 28th 2015
The Silent Genocide of the Village
The Serbian village, once the backbone of the state and the guardian of tradition, is today facing its most difficult historical challenge—the challenge of physical survival. What we are witnessing is not a spontaneous migration to cities, but a process that can rightfully be called a “silent genocide.”
For decades, the rural population has been systematically pushed to the margins of social interest. Strategically planned industrialization during the previous century, followed by a transition that completely ignored the needs of the small farmer, led to a situation where the village became a place from which people only flee, rather than a place where they build a future.
Today, we have thousands of empty houses and hundreds of villages without a single newborn child. The school bells have fallen silent, and the fields, which once fed the nation, are increasingly overgrown with weeds. This is not just an economic loss; it is a loss of the nation’s biological substance and cultural heritage.
To stop this “silent genocide,” cosmetic changes are not enough. A fundamental change in the state’s relationship with the village is necessary. This includes creating conditions where a young person can live with dignity from their work, having access to modern infrastructure, healthcare, and education within their local community. Without a strong village, there is no long-term stability for the state. The time for warnings has passed—now is the time for urgent, concrete action before the silence in our fields becomes permanent.