Political and cultural analysis of power and generational shifts in the Balkans

An analysis of the political landscape in Montenegro examines the persistence of institutional and interest-based networks despite changes in government. The text argues that three decades of political continuity allowed for the development of cadres and networks linked to capital, which can survive electoral shifts. This phenomenon, described as a 'captured state,' occurs when criminal or interest-driven systems utilize existing institutions rather than destroying them, maintaining influence through public procurement and state enterprise management.

In a separate cultural context, an exploration of the Yugoslav 'New Wave' music scene highlights the generational differences between the rebellious artistic expression of the late 1970s and 1980s and the current social climate. The discussion notes that while the 'children of socialism' used the system's educational and cultural opportunities to seek authenticity and individuality, the current era lacks a similar generational drive for cultural rebellion, suggesting a loss of social necessity for such movements following the establishment of independent Croatia.