This paper analyses the way in which political affiliations of refugees are influenced by their culture and habits specific to their country of origin, by the circumstances of exile as well as their integration into the new environment. The widespread opinion that refugees in Serbia represent a stronghold of support for the conservative nationalist Serbian Radical Party is questioned. Moreover, the paper shows that political communication with refugees requires understanding of the processes of (re)building of their identity and their (self)determination in exile. Such a step back from the daily political consumption of the refugee electorate, as well as their immediate neighbours, could be the key catalyst in the process of de-radicalisation of a post-conflict society like Serbia.

"Refugee electorate: past, present and future" is a chapter from the book entitled "The Political Framing of Refugees," which will be published soon in both Serbian and English. The chapter was edited by Migration Online for the purpose of its online publication. If you wish to use parts of this paper, please contact the author at jelena.grujic@gmail.com.