More than a tragic infrastructure failure, the collapse of the canopy at Novi Sad railway station in November 2024 was a glaring symptom of the kleptocratic governance that has defined Serbia’s political and economic system for over a decade.
The renovation of the station, part of a government-backed infrastructure push financed by China, was carried out under secrecy, fueling suspicions of corruption, cost inflation, and political favoritism. When the structure collapsed, killing 15 people, it became clear to many citizens of Serbia that corruption kills, triggering the biggest protests in the country has seen in decades.
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Serbia’s kleptocracy is not just a domestic problem; it is a transnational phenomenon sustained by three interlinked dynamics: the local agency of state capture, geopolitical competition, and international enablers.
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China was a desired partner due to its readiness to invest quickly in connectivity projects, both physical and digital, as part of a broader Chinese plan to build a corridor from the Port of Piraeus to Central Europe. China provided significant funds 'with no strings attached,' except dependency created through loans, something that does not seem to be a concern for this government. These deals, such as the construction of the high-speed railway from Novi Sad to Subotica, bring opportunity for additional enrichment, as money is spent not only on Chinese companies but also on local sub-contractors linked to the ruling party.
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Protesting students demand the publication of all project-related documents, accountability for those responsible, and a transparent investigation, but so far, more information was provided about the Chinese part of the work than about the work done by local subcontractors. This is an example of what the GEO-POWER-EU project categorises as corrosive capital – projects that do not merely bring in foreign money but actively exploit governance weaknesses and entrench control by the elites, irrespective of their country of origin.
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The problem, however, is not just about Russian or Chinese influence; it is about a broader pattern in which foreign capital, regardless of origin, is funneled into non-transparent, politically manipulated projects that sideline democratic governance and make significant damage to the population and environment. Much of it is tolerated by Western partners, especially since the so-called geopolitical turn in the EU, provided that the local agents behave in line with Franklin Roosevelt's motto: "He may be a bastard, but he's our bastard." Resembling such reasoning, in the first few years of governing, President Vučić faked compliance in a EU-mediated dialogue for the normalization of the relations with Kosovo, although occasionally also stirring incidents that he would then intervene to pacify.
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