ABSTRACT
Serbia has witnessed dramatic change over the past two decades, from the end of communism, to the rise of nationalism, the Balkan conflicts and finally the wave of democratic transition that culminated in the ousting of the Milosˇevic´ regime in October 2000. Like all emerging democracies, one of Serbia’s main challenges is overcoming the legacy of its past. The transition from a centralised, politicised and militarised police force to a ‘service’ that views its role as being a guarantor of the rule of law and a public service, is a long and painful journey. The role that a (un)reformed police and justice sector plays in the process of democratisation cannot be underestimated; similarly a process of democratisation has a direct impact on the trajectory of reform within the police. Understanding this symbiotic relationship in the case of Serbia is one of the main objectives of this chapter.
