Profesija Urbanista U Srbiji: Uspon, Pad, Šansa

The profession of urban planner in Serbia has gone through numerous phases – from its pioneering and heroic stages to today’s reality, where it is not easy to take pride in it. Following the European values of Emilijan Josimović, the modernism of Kovaljevski, and the socialist urbanists such as Maksimović and Dobrović, who contributed to the creation of highquality urban environments and professional autonomy despite ideological challenges, and after the development of research institutes, journals, competitions, and contemporary theoretical frameworks, the role of the urban planner has gradually deteriorated. Through the loss of its creative function and the decline of professional standards, it has now reached a state of complete "deregulation," with almost no positive influence on spatial shaping, development, or the needs of citizens. The gathering of urban planners presents a valuable opportunity to raise questions about the significance and importance of the urban planner’s role in society. How and to what extent do we contribute to general progress, quality of life and work, development, and spatial preservation today? What is the role of the urban planner in the contemporary social context? How can the profession be revived as an active creator of cities through the rehabilitation of responsibility and real efforts to enhance knowledge?