Authoritarian regimes remain a worrying problem for democracies in the Western Balkans, but the results of a survey conducted in 2025 with 6 young people (16-28 years old) from 6 countries show that there is still an active mass that believes in street protests as a means of response.

The recent study "Pulse of Democracy: Gen Z in the Western Balkans" found that an average of 40.0% of young people declare that they would immediately protest in the squares if their freedom were threatened by the extension of their leader's autocratic power.

Almost one in five young people in the region (21.0%) expressed complete indifference, saying that they “wouldn’t mind” changing the autocratic regime. 8.3% of respondents said they would limit themselves to virtual reactions via social networks, and another 5.8% immediately chose the path of emigration. Only a negligible minority of 5.7% at the regional level openly supported the autocratic regime, while 17.5% were undecided about the path they would follow.

The survey found that in Kosovo, Albania and Serbia, young people are more willing to defend themselves from autocratic regimes. In contrast, Montenegro and Bosnia are more likely to open the way to authoritarian regimes.

Kosovo's youth have the highest willingness to protest

The survey results show that Kosovo has the highest level of political awareness in the region. Young people there also show the greatest willingness to defend the constitutional and democratic order through protests.

According to data, 63% of Kosovo's youth are ready to take to the streets against any leader who tries to seize power unfairly or illegally.

Meanwhile, only 12.7% of young people from Kosovo show indifference, one of the lowest levels in the region. The percentage of those who would choose to leave the country in the event of an autocratic regime is 4.6%, while 4.5% would only engage online.

Likewise, the level of indecision is low, at 9.8%, which indicates that the majority of citizens have clear and determined positions.

Albania, resistance and emigration

In Albania, civic reaction remains above the regional average, with 47.8% of respondents declaring that they would protest to oppose an autocratic government. Albanian youth also show high sensitivity, with only 12.9% expressing indifference, the lowest level in the Region after Kosovo.

However, what sets Albania apart from other countries is the high percentage of citizens who see authoritarianism as a direct incentive to leave the country. 10.1% of Albanians would choose to emigrate immediately, the highest figure in the entire Western Balkans. Meanwhile, support for an autocratic regime is among the lowest in the region, at just 3.4%.

Serbia, a society polarized between the street and indifference

Data for Serbia shows a deep social polarization. On the one hand, the willingness to protest is quite high, involving 47.6% of young people in the event of an autocratic regime, almost at the same levels as in Albania.

On the other hand, the level of indifference is also considerable, with 23.9% of young people saying they would not care about the fate of democracy. Digital activism reaches 8.9%, while only 3.3% would consider leaving the country immediately. Serbia shows a relatively high level of determination in response, with only 9.2% declaring themselves undecided “I don’t know” how they would act in the case of such a regime.

Montenegro has higher expectations for autocracy

Montenegro represents the most critical point in the Region, showing the lowest levels of resistance and the highest levels of passivity or acceptance of authoritarianism. Only 22.2% of Montenegrin youth would protest in the streets, the lowest figure in the region.

On the contrary, 36.6% of them express complete indifference (“I wouldn’t mind”), leading the region in political indifference. Even more worryingly, Montenegro has the highest percentage of citizens who would openly support the strengthening of the autocracy at around 12.0%, double the regional average. Meanwhile, 11.4% would isolate themselves on social media and only 2.1% would leave the country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina amidst uncertainty and institutional ambiguity

Bosnia is notable for a high percentage of young people who would not know how to act in such a scenario. Due to the complex state structure and ongoing political deadlocks in Bosnia, 31.3% of young people declared “I don’t know,” indicating a marked lack of orientation or trust in the collective response.

Only 31.2% would choose to protest, while about 19.7% declare total indifference. Support for the autocratic leader included 5.7% of the young people surveyed, while 6.4% chose to leave the country.

North Macedonia, preference for reaction on social networks

Young people in North Macedonia show a more fragmented profile. Some 28.6% of them would take to the streets to protest, while a significant percentage of 20.4% expressed indifference in the event of increased autocratic governance.

What is worth noting is that this country has the highest level of mobilization only on social networks with 13.9%, showing a tendency to transfer the revolt to the virtual space instead of the squares. The desire to leave the country reaches 8.1%, the second highest after Albania, while 23.9% remain undecided./ Monitor