The history of youth policy and its relevance for youth policy in Serbia today

An attempt to give a broader framework and historical perspective to the development of youth policy in Serbia is a very difficult task because of the complex history of Serbia and the former Yugoslavia (different states and different names). It deserves a comprehensive historical approach; however, this paper’s primary aim is to give one possible perspective with an accompanying historical background on youth policy in Serbia. More precisely, certain important phases and key milestones for this topic will be highlighted and discussed in a sociocultural and historical context. Different types of youth care have existed in different historical periods, from early forms in the Serbian Kingdom (in the 19th century) up to the systematic institutional approach of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia (formed in 2007). An overview of the main features that are important for the development of youth policy in Serbia will be presented. These date back to the 19th century, and indeed further, in certain cases.