dc.description.abstract | Ever since there have been pandemics, there has been a search for the “scapegoat,” on
whom all the anger of the community faced with the fear of death falls. Throughout history,
the “scapegoat” has been sought for plague, cholera, smallpox, Spanish flu, HIV, Ebola, and
various epidemics and pandemics, including the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic, leading to
discrimination and violence, most often directed towards a specific ethnic or religious group.
Immediately after the announcement of the coronavirus pandemic, the Chinese became targets
of attacks. The attacks on the Chinese also had a political dimension, mainly due to the
rise of China’s political and economic power at the beginning of the 21st century. When it
comes to Serbia, while the virus has not yet reached Serbia, the discourse about China as the
“scapegoat” mainly was taken from foreign media. However, the situation quickly changed
because this dominant discourse did not coincide with Serbian foreign policy and the “strategic
partnership” between Serbia and China. Already in the first month since the declaration
of the pandemic in Serbia, China has become the leading partner in the fight against the
pandemic. The billboards represented the peak of the outpouring of friendship, spelling “in
gratitude to Chinese leader Xi Jinping”. Even though China and the Chinese were considered
“scapegoats” in many parts of the world, Serbia followed a different behavioral model during
the pandemic. This included strengthening its friendship with China and growing populism
and authoritarianism. | sr |