Serbian culture in transition: New contradictions

Three key transition contradictions in the culture of the Republic of Serbia (and Serbian culture) are: 1) a confusing relation between the state and culture, 2) the role of the market in culture, and 3) political instrumentalization of culture and the problem of general interest in culture and art. The first part offers a study of the inconsistent relation between the state and culture from 1990 to 2011. The state and its cultural policy are criticized from an anti-etatiste standpoint. At the same time the state is expected to enable cultural development. The free market, as a key factor of transition, has not been well accepted in the Serbian culture somewhat due to the crisis, somewhat due to the traditional state support to culture and arts. The second part of the text points to the political utilization of state supported art. Critical analysis of these phenomena is faced with the dilemmas referring to democracy in culture, where the issue of general national interest arises. The conclusion offers expectations of a continuation of contradictions in cultural policy of Serbia rather than their solving.