What ‘losers of transition’think about the security sector reform Marko Milošević 1 Predrag Petrović 2 Belgrade Centre for Security Policy Original scientific paper May 2011 UDK: 303.4:351.862.4(497.11) Abstract The aim of this paper is to find out whether there exists any con- nection between the characteristics of the respondents and their view- points about the reform of security sector in Serbia. Based on this, as well as based on other surveys, the authors attempted to opera- tionalise so-called ‘losers of transition’ in Serbia. Then they analysed how and to what extent this loser’s status is connected with the respondents’ viewpoints on different aspects of their security. In analysing these statements, the authors used the data obtained in a public opinion survey, the data from the focus groups with losers of transition, as well as the data of other relevant researches, and, final- ly, the Statistical Office data. The paper provides a cue for a discus- sion about how extensive is the violence potential of the losers of transition and whether this population threatens to ‘hold up’ reform endeavours in the security sector. Key words: losers of transition, security sector, military, police, populations, integrations, development Introduction After eleven years of socio-political and economic reforms, Serbia concluded its ‘first’ and started its ‘second’ transition. According to Guillermo O'Donnell, this is how the road to ‘second transition’ is opened after democratically elected government is established. The presumption is that the democratically elected government becomes institutionalised, which is a prerequisite for the establishment of con- solidated democracy. However, consolidation is only too often a WHAT ‘LOSERS OF TRANSITION’ THINK ABOUT THE SECURITY SECTOR REFORM N o 20 · MAY - AUGUST 2011 1 Contact: markomilosevic@ccmr-bg.org 2 Contact: predragpetrovic@ccmr-bg.org 51 SERBIA’S PUBLIC ON SECURITY