Disaster resilience in Serbia: perceptions of key stakeholders
Keywords:
community resilience, integrated disaster risk reduction system, disaster resilience measurement, resilience actors, resilience perception, preventionAbstract
This paper examines disaster resilience from a multidisciplinary perspective in the Republic of Serbia. It analyzes the development of disaster management within the framework of a modern Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction System, grounded in the principles of community resilience. It examines how resilience is perceived by actors participating in its construction, primarily institutions and their organizations in Serbia, but also individuals, that is, persons who are professional exponents of institutions and citizens themselves. By reviewing research on the resilience of local communities in Serbia, one can clearly see the problems Serbia faces in disaster resilience. Although there are normative frameworks for improving resilience, mechanisms for implementing instruments at the local level are lacking. Limited information, fragmented cooperation, and strong reliance on central authorities remain the main problems of institutions. For individuals, structural and psychosocial factors shape the perception of resilience. An examination of the current state of individual resilience actors in Serbia indicates a clear need for continuous measurement of resilience, focusing on the most important factors that influence it. Resilience cannot be understood without a deeper and more comprehensive examination of its individual factors. The low perception of resilience among individuals, both institutional representatives and citizens, underscores the need for targeted reforms to address the clearly identified shortcomings in research. Strengthening the institutional capacities of local government units, encouraging citizen participation in planning processes, integrating traditional values with scientific approaches, and promoting a culture of prevention through education are just some of the steps that must be taken in the short term. In contrast, long-term strategic investments in community and institutional capacities are essential. Through the above steps, social cohesion, institutional trust, and local capacities can be built as determinants of resilience.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dalibor Milenković, Vladimir Cvetković (Author)
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