In Montenegro, political opponents are no longer seen as legitimate dissenters, but as enemies. The absence of clear standards for sound argumentation creates room for double interpretations, logical fallacies, and emotional manipulation.
As a result, public rhetoric becomes saturated with exclusivism, labeling, and hate speech, narrowing the space for rational political debate and ultimately weakening the democratic capacity of society.
On the other hand, every attempt to “normalize” public discourse in an argumentative context is often perceived as “policing” or a restriction of free speech—this is especially evident when it comes to hate speech.
As a response to these challenges, UZOR proposes a set of recommendations that include: introducing standards of responsible political communication, reforming legal provisions related to hate speech, strengthening media and argumentation literacy through education, developing early-warning mechanisms for rhetorical radicalization, and creating spaces for constructive dialogue among political actors.
With this analysis, we aim to contribute to the creation of a political and social culture in which disagreement does not lead to hostility and antagonism, but serves as a foundation for a more meaningful and democratic exchange of ideas.
At the same time, we recognize that we do not live in a “free market of ideas” but in a polarized public sphere vulnerable to disinformation—which is why emphasizing sound argumentation can help avoid the undertone of ideological fervor.
These recommendations do not offer quick fixes, but they represent a sustainable framework for building a more inclusive and rational public scene in Montenegro. Their implementation requires political will, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term institutional support.
Without a clear response to the challenges of rhetorical radicalization, Montenegro remains exposed to the risks of deeper polarization, institutional erosion, and the breakdown of democratic dialogue.
And that is not the path to a model (UZOR-no) society.
Maja Nikolić
