At the height of liberal euphoria, when the entire region was chasing the illusion of rapid integration into globalist currents, SNSD President Milorad Dodik chose a more difficult but principled path – the path of sovereignty, traditional values, and the protection of national interests, said political scientist and diplomat Marko Milisav.
Milisav described it as the greatest paradox that those who have for years predicted Dodik’s political demise fail to understand that his political longevity is neither accidental nor the result of mere stubbornness.
“It is the result of strategic thinking, political experience, and a rare determination to sail against the current when necessary,” Milisav wrote an authored text for the Princip News portal..
According to him, this is precisely why, despite constant attacks, Dodik remains one of the few leaders in the region who has repeatedly demonstrated a deeper understanding of global trends than many of his critics.
“His political career is not a product of luck, but of vision, courage, and the ability to see what others ignore amid the greatest noise and confusion,” Milisav emphasized.
He added that it is sometimes almost amusing—nearly caricatural—to read quasi-analyses and statements by various Federation and opposition politicians and media outlets who have for more than two decades been announcing the “imminent end” of Milorad Dodik’s political career, his “isolation,” “loss of influence,” or “wrong policies.”
“Every time they predict his political downfall, electoral reality proves them wrong,” the diplomat noted.
Milisav pointed out that this gap between their wishes and the facts best illustrates how deeply they underestimate a man who—whether one likes it or not—is among the most experienced and skillful politicians and statesmen in this part of Europe.
He stressed that this is particularly evident in Dodik’s foreign policy, which most directly shapes internal political dynamics.
According to Milisav, it is enough to list just a few of the decisions and policies Dodik has adopted and implemented with his associates over the past two decades to understand this.
“When Russia experienced the harshest diplomatic isolation in modern history, Dodik did not abandon relations with Vladimir Putin. Not because it was easy—on the contrary, it was the most difficult choice—but because he understood deeper processes in international relations, the growing global clash of concepts, and the importance of stable alliances,” Milisav said.
He added that Dodik demonstrated the same patience and political courage in his relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
“While the Hungarian prime minister was portrayed in European media and the Brussels establishment as the ‘black sheep of the EU,’ Dodik recognized something many realized only later—that Orbán was building a long-term political model, that Hungary was strengthening its position, and that European currents would not remain forever as imagined by the liberal establishment,” Milisav noted.
He added that the victories of Robert Fico in Slovakia and Andrej Babiš in the Czech Republic further reinforced this approach.
Milisav also highlighted Dodik’s position on Israel at a time when politicians across Europe were waving Palestinian flags, often out of sheer political conformism.
“Dodik advocated Israel’s right to self-defense, emphasizing legal principles rather than trends. It was not a popular position, but it was consistent and well-founded,” he underlined.
A particularly important element of Dodik’s political consistency, Milisav said, is reflected in his relationship with Serbia.
“Throughout his entire career, regardless of who was in power in Belgrade, Dodik maintained stable, correct, and institutionally structured relations with Serbia’s democratically elected leadership,” Milisav said.
He recalled that Dodik consistently supported and sincerely welcomed every success and strengthening of Serbia, aware that a strong Serbia is the foundation of regional stability and a key pillar for Republika Srpska.
“This policy of consistency reached its full expression over the past decade through cooperation with President Aleksandar Vučić, with whom he built a relationship of mutual respect and political coordination, always insisting on peace, stability, and the preservation of shared national interests,” Milisav emphasized.
The clearest example of Dodik’s political courage, according to Milisav, was his open support for Donald Trump at a time when the entire Western media and NGO apparatus was demonizing the U.S. president on a daily basis.
“Dodik did not hesitate because he recognized that the world was entering a new phase, that U.S. foreign policy was changing, and that an era of realism was emerging. Today, as many states openly adopt policies once advocated by Trump, it is clear that Dodik’s stance was strategic, not impulsive,” Milisav said.
For that reason, he added, it is wrong to label Dodik’s moves as reckless or gambler-like.
“They may have appeared bold or out of step with the prevailing current at the time, but they were always based on assessment, long-term analysis, and planned positioning,” Milisav noted.
He pointed out that many people see only the popular side of Milorad Dodik—the man who sings at gatherings, shares emotions with the people, and is not ashamed of who he is—while often overlooking the fact that Dodik graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade, at a time when this represented serious education and systematic political training.
“It is often ignored that Milorad Dodik is not only a participant, but a creator of contemporary Serbian history. Behind him are years and decades during which he led Republika Srpska through almost impossible conditions—outlasting numerous high representatives, preserving the police of Republika Srpska, protecting its property, and steering Srpska through floods, economic crises, sanctions, and political blockades—without ever deviating from the core goal of keeping its institutions whole, functional, and stable,” Milisav stressed.
According to him, when viewed in retrospect, every issue on which Dodik was attacked—from relations with Russia, Orbán, Israel, Serbia, and Trump, to domestic policies—ultimately proved that he was right, without exception.
“That is the result of strategic thinking, political experience, and a rare persistence in going against the current when necessary,” Milisav concluded.
He added that this is precisely why, despite constant attacks, Milorad Dodik remains one of the few leaders in the region who has repeatedly shown a better understanding of global developments than many of his critics.
“His political career is not the product of luck, but of vision, courage, and the ability to see what others ignore. That is why various Schmidts, Borenovićs, Konakovićs, and others will have to wait a long time—and in vain—for the political end of Milorad Dodik,” Milisav concluded.
Source: RTRS
