Centre for Civic Education (CCE), on the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance, reminds of the importance of nurturing tolerance, respect and appreciation of diversity as the foundations of peace, stability and progress in Montenegro.
In 2025 we continue to witness a further decline in tolerance in Montenegro. Unfortunately, it is precisely political decision-makers who are contributing to the rise in tensions, as their statements and actions deepen polarisation and intolerance instead of reducing them. Alongside the growth of socio-economic problems and inequalities, such conduct further worsens the social climate and distances Montenegro from the values of modern democracy. Lasting political tensions, slow institutional reforms, and the lack of dialogue between the government and the opposition, as well as the absence of consensus on key issues of public interest, weaken the social fabric. National, religious and identity-related topics are increasingly misused, while the public sphere, including social media, is filled with growing intolerance and a deteriorated culture of communication.
CCE’s research confirms these trends: although 76.8% of citizens still view Montenegro as a multicultural society, that percentage has decreased compared to the previous year, and beneath the initial impression of multiculturalism we find a series of indicators revealing a different picture. Namely, 49.1% of respondents believe that discrimination based on religious affiliation is present, while 59.7% recognise discrimination on national grounds.
Of particular concern are examples in practice, such as the prevention of the screening of the film “The Stork” in the Albanian language at the Džada Film Fest, which illustrates how weakened the mechanisms of intercultural dialogue have become, and how much the understanding of the idea of multiculturalism has eroded, even though it should be one of Montenegro’s key characteristics. We have all also witnessed a worrying escalation of intolerance and violence against Turkish citizens, without an adequate institutional response. Additionally, the recipient of the highest state honour, Veljo Stanišić, publicly insults Roma on one of the local public broadcasters, using what the Roma Council of Montenegro described as “an unequivocal expression of hate speech and ethnic intolerance”, which likewise passes without any institutional reaction.
The absence of a swift and decisive institutional response to such incidents sends the wrong message – that hate speech is becoming normalized, and this further undermines efforts to build an inclusive and civic-minded society.
The CCE recalls that tolerance is not the renunciation of one’s own values, but the willingness for dialogue and acceptance of diversity, with respect for the constitutional order, human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is precisely in times of social and political crisis that the need for tolerance becomes more important than ever.
The CCE calls on institutions, social and political actors, the media, and citizens to actively contribute to strengthening a culture of tolerance through thoughtful action, responsible public communication, and consistent affirmation of civic values. Montenegro can develop as an open, democratic and solidaristic society only if it views diversity as an asset, not a threat. Tolerance is not weakness, but strength, one that connects, protects, and enables the sustainable development of society.
Lejla Šabotić, Project Assistant