Podcasts about western balkans

Discussion Highlights:Global demographic megatrends include aging populations, declining fertility rates, and diverging regional population dynamics.Migration patterns involve both forced displacement from conflict zones such as Ukraine and Palestine and labor migration from the Western Balkans, with climate-related movement remaining unpredictable.Depopulation in the Western Balkans is driven by inaccurate census data, economic factors that incentivize emigration, steadily declining fertility rates, and cultural influences on family size.Many countries in the region face labor shortages as plumbers, electricians, and healthcare workers emigrate, prompting policy responses to attract migrant labor, cover an estimated €600 million integration cost in Croatia, and implement language instruction and integration programs.Populist political discourse often exploits public fears about migration, while political leaders frequently show reluctance to acknowledge domestic labor shortages and plan beyond short electoral cycles.Europe's geopolitical context is shaped by U.S.-China competition, the continuation of the war in Ukraine, and uneven or delayed European responses to crises, such as the conflict in Gaza.The current EU enlargement process is critiqued as overly merit-based, and many argue for the package accession of all Western Balkan states, drawing lessons from Croatia's recent membership and anticipating a changing nature of the future European Union.Bosnia and Herzegovina's post-Dayton governance system succeeded in halting widespread violence but remains hampered by persistent power-sharing gridlock, redundant international structures such as the Office of the High Representative, and ongoing challenges in constitutional and education system reforms.Thirty years after Dayton, instances of inter-ethnic violence have remained low since 1995, but schooling and commemorative practices remain fragmented, and domestic dialogue on wartime accountability has stalled.EU integration offers the potential to replace international oversight with European Union frameworks while addressing governance deficits, pervasive corruption, and the need for electoral reforms.About Alida VračićAlida Vračić is a political scientist and lawyer. She co-founded and serves as executive director of Populari, a Sarajevo-based think tank specializing in post-conflict state-building, democratization, good governance, and migration in the Western Balkans. Vračić holds a law degree from the University of Sarajevo and Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, where she specialized in criminal procedure law, an M.Sc. in International Public Policy from University College London, and completed Executive Education for non-government executives at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Before founding Populari in 2007, she worked for the State Court Prosecutor's team in Bosnia, at the Human Rights Commission of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and led Balkan-wide projects at the Human Rights Centre, University of Sarajevo, and the Spanish Institutional Programme. Vračić has been affiliated with several academic and policy institutions, including as a former Europe's Futures fellow at IWM, the European Council on Foreign Relations as a Visiting Fellow, and the German Marshall Fund as a Marshall Memorial Fellow. Further Reading & ResourcesPopulari Think Tank: https://populari.org/en populari.orgIWM Europe's Futures Program (Alida Vračić profile): https://www.iwm.at/europes-futures/fellow/alida-vracic iwm.atECFR Profile (Alida Vračić): https://ecfr.eu/profile/alida-vracic ecfr.eu Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

Radio Schuman spoke with outgoing Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt about Brussels being without rule for almost a year, how this damages Brussels' reputation, and hurts locals. Why it is so difficult to come to an agreement? And will there be a re-election?We also head to the Western Balkans for the start of European Council President's four-day tour as part of diplomatic efforts to keep candidate countries on an EU path. And finally, Europe's rapidly ageing population is posing an existential threat to the continent's healthcare system. Which countries are worst affected?This episode of Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Lauren Walker with journalist Maïa de la Baume. Audio editing by David Brodheim. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nina and Alexandra open this episode with a discussion of the first round of the much-awaited presidential election in Romania, in which the far-right candidate George Simion blew away the competition. They then talk about Russia's commemoration of Victory in Europe Day taking place on May 9th, including the various guests from our region who plan to attend. Finally, Alexandra provides updates on the student protests in Serbia and Nina closes with some positive news for press freedom in Estonia.For the main interview, Alexandra sits down with Adnan Ćerimagić, Senior Analyst for the Western Balkans at the European Stability Initiative (ESI), to discuss the latest secessionist crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Adnan provides a detailed update of what has transpired in the country since February, when Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik was convicted in the first-instance of defying the orders of Bosnia and Herzegovina's High Representative. He then shares potential future scenarios and explains why this could become a very dangerous situation for the country and for the rest of Europe.  "Negotiating Peace? Trump, Putin and the future of Ukraine" - Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe now online: http://bit.ly/4d8ncXbVisit us online at: www.talkeasterneurope.eu

Serbia's citizens have been protesting for over six months, taking part in demonstrations around the country in reaction to their government's alleged corruption. Though the country's president, Aleksandar Vučić, has attempted to appease them, the movement shows no sign of slowing down.Situated in the Western Balkans, Serbia has had a long history of conflict; from the Ottoman Empire to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, but the ongoing civil unrest comes at a crossroads moment for President Vučić. Serbia is awaiting approval to join the European Union yet remains closely tied with the Kremlin.As the Serbian government seeks to solidify its place in the world, protestors continue their calls for transparency and accountability. This week on The Inquiry we ask “Will Serbia's mass protests unseat the president?”Contributors: Gordana Andric, Executive Editor at Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Belgrade, Serbia Dr. Andi Hoxhaj OBE, Lecturer in Law and the Director of the European Law LLM pathway programme, King's College, London Ivana Randelovic, Senior Programme Officer for Europe at Civil Rights Defenders, Belgrade, Serbia Dr. Helena Ivanov, Associate Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, Belgrade, SerbiaPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Daniel Rosney Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: James Bradshaw Production Management Assistant: Liam MorreyImage credit: Srdjan Stevanovic via Getty Images

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 17-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,215on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Tuesday, extending momentum from a session earlier as a technical rebound continued. Buying focused on non-tech stocks, while the electronics sector saw its gains capped after reports that Huawei Technologies is ready to test its newest artificial intelligence chip to rival Nvidia. Narwhal faces sea trial testing delay Navy Chief of Staff Qiu Chun-rong has admitted the first domestically built submarine prototype willl likely miss the date that sea trials were scheduled to begin. The Ministry of National Defense's timeline for the Narwhal to carry out sea trials was supposed to begin in April month and be completed by late September. However, Qiu says the Navy is currently still working on improvements and focusing on reaching the "technology readiness level" required for the vessel (船隻) to carry out sea trials. That statement followed reports of potential testing delays due to voltage surges from a land-based power supply used in testing causing some components in the submarine to fail. CDC warning of rise in COVID cases The Centers for Disease Control is warning in a rise in the number of COVID infections. According to the C-D-C, infections have now risen for three consecutive (連續的) weeks and are likely to peak between May and June. Figures show the number of people visiting hospitals with COVID symptoms increased by 19-per cent last week from the previous (前) week. While 21 cases of severe COVID and seven deaths have been confirmed over the past seven days. C-D-C Deputy Director-General Philip Luo is advising people to get vaccinated and more than 3-million doses of government-funded COVID vaccines are currently available. Canada PM Warning on Trump Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has just won re-election to officially replace former leader Justin Trudeau has warned that the US president is trying to break Canada. Kate Fisher reports from Washington EU Urges Serbia Reforms The European Union's enlargement commissioner has urged Serbia's new government to push forward democratic reforms (改革，改進) needed for membership in the bloc, saying that the Balkan nation's protesting citizens have been seeking similar changes. Marta Kos says the EU wants to embrace Serbia and other candidate countries in the Western Balkans. But she said Serbia must first reform the judiciary in order to fight corruption, ensure freedom of the press and free and fair elections. Marta Kos spoke after meeting Serbia's new prime minister who has taken over the government earlier this month facing monthslong anti-corruption demonstrations triggered by a train station concrete canopy collapse that killed 16 people in November. Many in Serbia blamed the crash in the northern city of Novi Sad on alleged rampant (猖獗) corruption in the government's infrastructure deals with China, staging almost daily street protests demanding justice for the victims. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ ✨宏匯廣場 歡慶璀璨女王節✨

Baroness Catherine Ashton, formerly the European Union's lead for foreign and security strategy, discusses challenges, opportunities and tips for collaborative strategy-making. As the EU's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton was at the heart of international strategy making between 2009 and 2014 working on some of the world's most intractable problems. She was appointed by the UN Security Council to lead the P5+1 negotiations for a nuclear deal with Iran and was in post when Russia first invaded Ukraine, seizing Crimea and parts of the Donbas in 2014. She also led peace negotiations in the Western Balkans between Serbia and Kosovo, for which she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In this episode, she reflects on strategy-making in an international and supranational context, the challenges facing Europe today and how ‘false binaries' – such as those that posit the EU and NATO as being in opposition – stifle effective strategy elaboration. She argues that strategy makers need preparedness of thought and action, the ability to ground their ambition both in reality but also in individual and organisational values, as well as the will to ask, and respond to, the key question of any adaptive strategy, ‘And then what?'. In an illustrious career, The Rt Hon The Baroness Catherine Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG PC was a minister, Leader of the House of Lords, the UK's first female Commissioner in the European Union and the High Representative and First Vice President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the Barroso Commission establishing the European External Action Service as a major actor in international affairs.

Discussion Highlights:Idemo!'s Mission: Building bridges between Austria and the Western Balkans.Democratic Challenges: Addressing political instability and ethnic divisions in the region.Diaspora Engagement: Mobilizing communities to support democratic initiatives."Speak Up!" Program: Empowering young leaders to collaborate across ethnic lines.EU Integration: Navigating the path toward European Union membership.Grassroots Activism: The role of civil society in promoting democratic values.Transnational Cooperation: Leveraging networks to foster regional stability.Inclusive Civic Spaces: Creating platforms for dialogue and collaboration.​About Teresa ReiterTeresa Reiter is a journalist and policy professional based in Vienna. She is a co-founder of Idemo!, an organization promoting civic engagement and cross-ethnic cooperation among Austria's Western Balkans diaspora. Most recently, Reiter worked as a political specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. Reiter previously led communications at the European Forum Alpbach, co-hosted The Defence Café podcast, and served as a foreign policy advisor for NEOS in the Austrian Parliament. She was a candidate in the 2019 European Parliament elections. Reiter was a 2020/21 Europe's Futures Fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) and ERSTE Foundation.Learn more about Idemo! at idemo.jetzt.​Further Reading & ResourcesIdemo!'s Initiatives: idemo.jetztFacebook: IDEMOX: @idemomediaLinkedIn: Idemo Social Media Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

The Western Balkans are often seen as Europe's periphery, but they are in fact embedded within the continent's history and future ambitions. Despite close economic ties with the EU, these six countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—remain outside the Union, navigating a complex path toward accession. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie is joined by Simonida Kacarska, Nina Vujanović and Anna Fiore to explore the economic realities, trade dynamics, and political hurdles facing the region. How integrated are these economies already? What barriers remain, and can the new EU growth plan bring about meaningful progress? This podcast was produced with financial support from The Open Society Foundations Western Balkans. 

As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to reshape the global order, energy security has emerged as a defining challenge for NATO and its allies. From pipeline politics to infrastructure sabotage and disinformation campaigns, the Kremlin has long used energy as a geopolitical weapon to exert influence and destabilize democracies. In response, NATO members and EU states have launched ambitious efforts to decouple from Russian fossil fuels, bolster infrastructure resilience, and reconfigure energy supply chains. Yet key questions persist: Is Europe's shift away from Russian energy a structural transformation or a temporary pivot? How is the transatlantic alliance adapting to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, sabotage, and narrative manipulation? And as the green transition accelerates, will energy decarbonization open new fault lines—or create lasting strategic resilience? In this episode, Beyond the Headlines examines the evolving nexus of energy, security, and democratic resilience. We speak with two leading experts in transatlantic policy and law to explore how NATO and its partners are responding to a rapidly shifting energy landscape—and how Russia's use of energy as leverage is transforming global politics. Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt is a Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where he holds joint appointments with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, and Perry World House. His work bridges advanced research in experimental cosmology with international policy engagement on energy security, infrastructure resilience, and sanctions regimes. A former European Energy Security Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Schmitt led diplomatic efforts to support NATO's eastern flank and counter Russian malign energy activities. He is also a Senior Fellow for Democratic Resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), an Associate of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, and a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Professor Alan Riley is a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, Natolin, and a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. A legal expert in European competition, trade, and energy law, he has advised governments, EU institutions, and companies on strategy and regulation surrounding energy infrastructure and security. He currently serves as an energy advisor to the Prime Minister of Moldova and sits on the Advisory Committee of the Energy Community in Vienna, applying EU energy law across Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and the Western Balkans. Professor Riley has written extensively on Nord Stream 2, foreign direct investment policy, and EU antitrust frameworks.  Produced by: Julia Brahy  

To start of the episode, Adam and Alexandra talk about the prospect of foreign troop deployment in Ukraine, a historic border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, a further crackdown against opposition in Georgia, and the fleeing of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik to Moscow. Alexandra is then joined by policy analyst Alejandro Esteso Pérez, who specializes in the Western Balkans, EU enlargement, corruption, and authoritarianism. Alejandro shares findings from his latest research on how illiberal leaders in the region have instrumentalized and "illiberalized" the EU enlargement policy for their own, anti-democratic gains. You can check out his research on the subject here: https://www.europeum.org/en/articles-and-publications/policy-paper-illiberalising-eu-enlargement-to-the-western-balkans/In our bonus episode, Alexandra and Alejandro discuss the elections in Kosovo, which took place in February 2025, including what they could mean for domestic politics and the future of "normalization" talks with Serbia given the new geopolitical landscape in Europe and the US. Check out the bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-217-test-125838495

In the latest episode of Now Europe, our guest is David McAllister, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. We discuss the major successes and challenges of EU foreign and security policy in 2024. Is Europe ready for further enlargement? What are the prospects for Ukraine and the Western Balkans? What are the implications of cooling transatlantic relations, and is a common defense policy a realistic scenario? Tune in to find out!

Current tectonic changes in Europe's security environment have opened the way for rethinking the EU enlargement process. Western Balkan countries are an immediate neighbour to the EU and their stability is of strategic importance. As their closest EU partner, Croatia strongly advocates for the European path of the Western Balkans countries and is committed to finding solutions to challenges in the accession processes. In this address as part of the IIEA's Future-Proofing Europe project, supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister Grlić Radman will tackle some of the focal challenges and questions on EU enlargement, as well as opportunities and possible ways forward. Speaker bio: Gordan Grlić Radman is the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, a post he has held since July 2019. Additionally, Minister Radman is also the President of the Danube Commission. Prior to his current position, he was Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Federal Republic of Germany from 2017 until 2019 and to Hungary from 2012 until 2017. He has also held a number of high-level roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Head of the Central European Department and Secretary General. Minister Radman holds a PhD from the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Zagreb.

Peace keeping expert Prof. John Karlsrud (head of the international NAVIGATOR research project) comments on the current European discussion regarding the creation and maintanence of peace in Ukraine. He puts forward concrete ideas regarding the composition of peace keeping forces in Ukraine, and clarifies why the United Nations could not have been more instrumental during the last 3 years of war. Prof. Karlsrud is strongly in favour of EU enlargement, including to foster peace in the Western Balkans, and finally he also comments on the broader European institutional architecture, highlighting the significance of old organisations like the OSCE and new ones like the EPC.

Božidar Radišic has been a vocal cannabis activist for almost two decades, he is the president of FIST – human rights association, a member of IACM – International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines and founder of the Research Nature institute in Ljubljana (http://www.researchnature.com/).Thusfar, Božidar has organized seven international scientific conferences aimed at demystifying cannabis (http://demystifyingcannabis.org/gallery).The 6th conference held in Ljubljana in 2019 was also the first conference of the kind to be part of the licensed training program of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia and the Chamber of Nursing and Midwifery Services of Slovenia.He regulary lectures and participates at cannabis-related seminars and other events in Slovenia and abroad. He is known as a tireless activist and medical cannabis advocate in Slovenia, EU and the Western Balkans.The RN Institute monitors the quality of cannabis products and to that aim established its own laboratory providing HPLC and GC/MS analysis.As a result, it has gained a deep insight into cannabis use among patients and the quality of products on the market.

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before its rebirth as a nation in the 1990s, Serbia had acquired a reputation abroad as Russia's stalwart Slavic ally in the Western Balkans. Yet, as Vuk Vuksanović argues in Serbia's Balancing Act: Between Russia and the West (Bloomsbury, 2025), two centuries of history and the 25 years since the fall of Slobodan Milošević tell a more nuanced story. "When it comes to Russia's interests,” he writes, “there are no sacred cows in Serbia-Russia relations". Governments in Belgrade will be courted and then discarded depending on Moscow's needs, and they know it. For their part, the Serbs depend on Russian political support in their campaign for a face-saving settlement of the long-running Kosovo dispute but know their economic success hinges on their ties to the EU and the US. Belgrade must "manipulate the superpower rivalry to secure economic resources from both superpowers and its political strategic autonomy". Vuk Vuksanović is a foreign policy expert at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, an associate of the Central and South-East Europe Programme at LSE IDEAS, and a prominent media commentator on strategy in the Balkans. *His book recommendations were Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe by Dimitar Bechev (Yale University Press, 2017) and Why War? by Christopher Coker (Hurst, 2021). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes and podcasts on Substack at 242.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#SERBIA: DISORDER IN THE WESTERN BALKANS.IVANA STRADNER, FDD. 1904 PETER I OF SERBIA

Conversation between Milena Mihajlović Denić, Programme Director of European Policy Centre - CEP Belgrade and WeBER 3.0 Team Leader and Peter Vagi, Senior Policy Advisor at SIGMA/OECD. Western Balkan Enablers for Reforming Public Administrations – WeBER 3.0 project is the third consecutive EU-funded grant of the largest civil society-led initiative for monitoring public administration reform (PAR) in the Western Balkans. WeBER 3.0 reinforces participatory democracy by enabling CSOs to actively engage and inclusively monitor PAR outcomes across the WB, advocating for the reforms' consistency with EU requirements. WeBER 3.0 is implemented by six non-governmental organisations, one per each Western Balkan countries. The Centre for Public Administration Research (KDZ) Vienna is a EU-level based partner of the project. The project is supported by the European Commission and Austrian Development Agency - ADA This conversation was recorded in Skopje, North Macedonia, in November 2024, as a fourth episode of the TEN TV Show.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, John Cappello emphasized the importance of collaboration and sharing experiences in the Western United States to combat disinformation and influence social dynamics. He suggested several research areas, including the use of disinformation in the Western Balkans, the impact of disinformation on trust in institutions, and effective strategies for countering disinformation. John also encouraged interested students or researchers to reach out to him for potential collaboration. He recommended the book "Parting the Curtain" by Walter Hickson for a better understanding of the challenges faced in the region. Recording Date: 11 Feb 2025 Research Question: John Cappello suggests an interested student or researcher examine the disinformation tactics actors use within the Balkan region and which strategies have been successful to counter these efforts. Resources: Balkan Security Network Halyard Mission Foundation Parting the Curtain: Propaganda, Culture, and the Cold War, 1945-1961 by Walter L. Hixson Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History by Robert D. Kaplan Tim Judah Noel Malcolm Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: John Cappello, a 25-year veteran of the United States Air Force, is a founding partner and Chief Operations Officer of the Balkan Security Network (BSN). Specializing in defense and security issues, with a focus on hybrid warfare and information operations in the Western Balkans, his experience includes serving as Defense Attaché in Belgrade, Serbia, and U.S. Air Force Attaché in Tel Aviv, Israel. The Balkan Security Network specializes in defense and security information projects and disinformation analysis in the Western Balkans, providing fact-based news and analysis on these issues. BSN's content is published across the region. John is also the president of the Halyard Mission Foundation. Founded in 2015 the goal of the Foundation is to educate, commemorate, and increase awareness of the Halyard Mission, the rescue of over 500 US airmen during WWII, and the role the Serbs played in the success of the mission. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Serbia is struggling with large-scale corruption. Discontent with president Aleksandar Vučić's government is growing, and student protests are becoming increasingly larger. Investigative journalist Stevan Dojčinović talks about the ongoing struggle against corruption and the fight for a transparent democracy, along with GroenLinks/PvdA Member of the European Parliament Thijs Reuten and Professor Comparative Governance Antoaneta Dimitrova.For weeks, tens of thousands of people in Serbia have been taking to the streets to protest against corruption within the Serbian government. The student-led protest movement was boosted by farmers, actors and educators, in the most recent show of public anger over the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people.Serbia is also in the international spotlight. President Vučić values his relationship with Russia. At the same time, Serbia seeks to become a member of the EU. While Brussels is concerned about the growing influence of Russia and China in the Western Balkans, negotiations are currently stalled because of the lack of alignment with the foreign policy of the EU.What direction will the future of Serbia take? Investigative journalist Stevan Dojčinović has been uncovering corruption in Serbia for over fifteen years. This evening he will tell us about his battle for a transparent democracy. How is it to be a journalist in a corrupt state? And how does he foresee the future?Dojčinović is the head of the Serbian organization Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK). KRIK has faced legal consequences for its investigative journalism, and has even been sued for complaining about being sued.About the Freedom LecturesFreedom is something that we in The Netherlands typically take for granted. In the series, De Balie has welcomed freedom fighters like Iranian filmmaker Niloofar Azimian, Egyptian writer and activist Nawal el Saadawi, Ugandan LGBT activist Frank Mugisha, Hungarian journalist Veronika Munk and French philosopher Didier Eribon. We share their stories, spread their message and learn from their struggle. The Freedom Lecture is supported by Vfonds.Check out the privacy notice on https://art19.com/privacy and the privacy statement of California on https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we discuss the challenging power dynamics that can exist between donors, and ourselves as fundraisers. How do characteristics such as race, gender, sexuality, or age impact how we are perceived and treated by donors? AFP ICON 2025 speakers Laurel McCombs and Robert Osborne share the strategies they've learned over the last four years of presenting on this topic, providing emerging leaders and fundraisers of all career levels with a toolkit for navigating challenging situations and continuing the conversation at their organizations and throughout the sector. To learn more, check out their session, Navigating Power Dynamics in Fundraising, at AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle, April 27-29.  Guests: Laurel MCombs: Laurel McCombs brings more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector and a passion for the role philanthropy can play in changing the world to her work as a consultant and trainer with The Osborne Group. Laurel is a well-known speaker presenting well-received workshops for national organizations, universities, as well as AFP ICON, CASE-NAIS, Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and AFP Congress. She works closely with clients on a variety of topics, including donor retention, development operations, planning, donor management, board development and more. Robert Osborne: Robert is Principal of The Osborne Group, with 30 years of nonprofit experience. He speaks regularly nationally and internationally. Robert serves on the boards of the United Hospital Fund and US Squash, both in New York. He also serves on the International Advisory Board of the Czech Fundraising Center in Czech Republic, the International Advisory Board of the Impact Hub Belgrade in Serbia, and the Advisory Board of the Impact Hub Metropolitan in New York. He is a studio partner and co-founder of Studio X Ventures, a venture studio for social impact startups in the Western Balkans. Hosts:  Emily Leitzinger, CFRE, CNP, Director of National Leadership Giving, Cure SMA: Emily Leitzinger is a fundraising executive with over 15 years of experience driving organizational growth and sustainability through innovative fundraising strategies and donor engagement. She currently serves as the Director of National Leadership Giving at Cure SMA and is particularly proud of launching the first-ever Legacy Society for the organization. Emily is dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in philanthropy, as noted in her Master's capstone. In this project, she examines the effects of donor influence on nonprofit operations and proposes frameworks for more balanced and ethical donor engagement. A chartering member and past president of the Mid-City, New Orleans Rotary Club, Emily is affectionately known as the Deputy Governor of "Yes" and is set to become the District Governor of District 6840. In addition to her professional achievements, she enjoys traveling, long-distance running, and craft beer, and is a huge fan of The Office.  She lives in New Orleans with her Elvis-impersonating husband, Mike.    Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, CFRE, ACNP, GPC, CAP, Founder & CEO, AQP Consulting & Executive Director, ENP: Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has collectively raised approximately $5 million for over 75 organizations. She serves as Executive Director of ENP and runs her own nonprofit consulting firm, AQP Consulting, where she helps grassroots nonprofits with fundraising strategy, strategic planning, board development, and grant writing.  Allison is a vocal advocate for gender parity, closing the wage gap, and ending the motherhood penalty. With accolades such as AFP's Outstanding Young Fundraising Professional, NBJ's 40 Under 40, NBJ's Women of Influence, a National Latino Leader, and the Women Who Rock Nashville Social Justice Award, Dr. Quintanilla Plattsmier strives to serve and better her community every day. A dedicated AFP member for the last seven years, Allison currently chairs the Women's Impact Initiative (WII) Mentorship Program and serves on the LEAD Education Advisory Committee. When she is not out serving her community, she is spending time with her three kids, Quintan, Karina, and Kamren.

This past weekend voters in Kosovo went to the polls in an election that many saw as critical for the future of its relations with the US and the EU, but also when it comes to stalled talks with Serbia to normalize ties. Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who has pushed hardline policies vis-a-vis Kosovo's Serbs, won the general election, but his party fell short of a majority and will need to find a coalition partner to remain in power. Expert Charles Kupchan joins Thanos Davelis to break down why these elections matter not just for Kosovo, but for the Western Balkans and the broader region.Charles Kupchan is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Government. He previously served as special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs on the staff of the National Security Council in the Obama administration.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Why Kosovo's Election Matters For The Region And The WorldKosovo PM Albin Kurti wins election amid tensions with Brussels and WashingtonSerbia: Students mark 100 days since deadly canopy collapseTrump Says Call With Putin Is Beginning of Ukraine Peace NegotiationsTrump and Putin stun Europe with peace plan for Ukraine President-elect Tasoulas calls for national unity and social solidarity

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan invites Alicia Garcia Herrero and Ana Krstinovska to delve into China's expanding footprint in the Western Balkans and its implications for Europe's economic security and strategic autonomy. They explore the region's strategic importance and analyze how China's developments in the region impact the EU's neighborhood policy and economic security.

Russia's belligerence and political interference in some of the Black Sea littoral states threaten the EU's influence in the region. Rym Momtaz sat down with Dimitar Bechev and Thomas de Waal to discuss how the union can respond to Moscow's destabilizing actions and keep the enlargement process on track. [00:00:00] Intro, [00:02:13] The Political Situation in Georgia and Moldova, [00:10:04] The EU's Enlargement Strategy, [00:20:14] Europe's Role in the Black SeaRym Momtaz et al., December 5, 2024, “Taking the Pulse: Are Information Operations Russia's Most Potent Weapon Against Europe?,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe.Dimitar Bechev, November 25, 2024, “Illiberal eastern Europeans look to play their Trump card,” Financial Times.Dimitar Bechev, Richard Giragosian, Gorana Grgić, and Batu Kutelia, December 5, 2024, “In Brief: Russia's Hybrid War,”War on the Rocks.Dimitar Bechev, Iliriana Gjoni, October 24, 2024, “All Is Not Well With EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans,” Carnegie Europe.Dimitar Bechev, June 27, 2024, “Between the EU and Moscow: How Russia Exploits Divisions in Bosnia,” Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.Dimitar Bechev, June 20, 2024, “Can EU Enlargement Work?,” Carnegie Europe.Thomas de Waal, January 16, 2025, “Moldova's Gas Crisis Is Europe's Headache,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe.Thomas de Waal, October 31, 2024, “Georgia's Dangerous Moment Is a Challenge for the EU,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe.Thomas de Waal, October 9, 2024, “Can Georgia Stay on Its European Path?,” Europe Inside Out, Carnegie Europe.Thomas de Waal, June 5, 2024, “Opportunistic Georgia joins Europe's illiberal club,” Financial Times.Thomas de Waal, October 9, 2024, “Between Russia and the EU: Europe's Arc of Instability,” Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

Discussion Highlights:Europe's preparedness for a potential second Trump presidency.Challenges to EU strategic autonomy and transatlantic relations.The influence of defense contracts and energy dependencies on European policies.Internal EU struggles: technocracy versus democracy and stalled institutional reforms.Enlargement prospects in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe as pathways to rejuvenate the EU's global standing.Leadership and unity in the face of global instability.About Stefan Lehne:Stefan Lehne is a Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe, focusing on EU institutions, reforms, and foreign policy. His career spans multiple senior positions, including director general for political affairs at the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs, and he has extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy. Lehne has served in Austria's missions to the United Nations and the European Union and was involved in Austria's EU accession negotiations.Lehne's recent research explores European integration, strategic autonomy, and responses to global challenges. He also lectures at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and frequently contributes to policy discussions and publications. Lehne was a 2018/19 Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation.Recent Publications by Stefan Lehne:Charting the Radical Right's Influence on EU Foreign Policy (April 2024, with Rosa Balfour) – Carnegie EuropeThe Rules-Based Order vs. the Defense of Democracy (September 2024) – Carnegie EuropeEurope's New Leadership Faces a Teamwork Test (June 2024) – Carnegie EuropeEurope's Radical Right Is Formidable—but Not Unstoppable (April 2024) – Carnegie Europefind Stefan on X @StefanLehne Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

Discussion Highlights:Europe's preparedness—or lack thereof—for the second Trump presidency.Challenges to EU strategic autonomy and transatlantic relations.The role of defense contracts and energy dependencies in shaping Europe's policies.The EU's internal struggles: technocracy vs. democracy and stalled institutional reforms.Enlargement opportunities in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe as a pathway to rejuvenating the EU's geopolitical clout.Balancing hope and trepidation in the face of rising global instability.Dr. Rosa Balfour is the director of Carnegie Europe, specializing in European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy. Her current research examines the interplay between domestic politics and Europe's global role.Dr. Balfour has an extensive publication record, including books, research articles, and opinion pieces in international media outlets such as the Washington Post, the Financial Times, The Guardian, and El País. Her work often addresses European politics and international relations, focusing on regions like the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans, as well as topics like EU enlargement and democracy support.In addition to her role at Carnegie Europe, Dr. Balfour serves as an advisor to Women in International Security Brussels (WIIS-Brussels) and is an associate fellow at LSE IDEAS. She is also an honorary patron of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and was appointed to the Scientific Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in 2024.Prior to joining Carnegie Europe, Dr. Balfour was a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and directed the Europe in the World program at the European Policy Centre in Brussels. She has also conducted research in Rome and London. Her academic credentials include an MA in history from Cambridge University, and both an MSc in European Studies and a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Dr. Balfour was a 2018/19 Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation.Find Rosa on Bluesky or X Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta break down our Weekly Outlook, including the surprise lead of a far-right candidate in Romania's presidential elections, and the naming of presidential candidates in Poland. Europe Enlargement Fellow Jan Farfał then interviews Veton Surroi, a Kosovar Albanian publicist, politician and journalist, on the Western Balkans under Donald Trump 2.0 and more. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/romanias-presidential-surprise-far-right-georgescu-or-pro-eu-lasconi/

*Disclaimer – this podcast was recorded before the results of the US election were announced*In this episode, Alexandra is back and joins Adam with a brief discussion on the latest news in the region.  First they discuss the US elections – recorded on election day – and what might the vote mean for Central and Eastern Europe, especially Russia's war in Ukraine.  They briefly examine European Commission's latest report on enlargement and its assessment of the progress in the Western Balkans.Later, Alexandra and Adam are joined by Tinatin Japaridze, an analyst with Eurasia Group. She is a specialist in geopolitics and security in Eurasia, with a particular focus on the Russia-Ukraine war. She also leads the firm's coverage of Georgia and Azerbaijan, including the countries' domestic and foreign policies, reforms, and leaderships.  They discuss the most recent parliamentary elections in Georgia, whether they were free and fair, what the opposition can do next and the reaction of the international community.For further reading: “Georgia, Moldova and Bulgaria are counting on Europe's support to resist Russia and safeguard democracy” – New Eastern Europe 30 October 2024: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/10/30/georgia-moldova-and-bulgaria-are-counting-on-europes-support-to-resist-russia-and-safeguard-democracy/“Defending democracy in Georgia” – New Eastern Europe 24 September 2024: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/09/24/defending-democracy-in-georgia/Check out Adam's commentary in the latest Brief Eastern Europe: https://briefeasterneurope.beehiiv.com/p/november-4-2024Support the podcast – help us get to 60 Patrons before 2025: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope>>> Join us on November 14th for a Live Stream of Episode 200! You can watch on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUqj40e3GDQ

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen meets with leaders throughout the Western Balkans to secure the enlargement of the EU. Plus: will the winners of the Austrian election get pushed out of government? Then: London's Design Museum dives into ‘The World of Tim Burton'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textWhen the Einsatzgruppen began reporting that they were murdering Jews, the British code-breakers at Bletchley Park intercepted and decoded the messages.  Throughout the Holocaust, these men and women deciphered the reports of the SS and documented the crimes of the Nazi state.On this episode, I talk with journalist and researcher Christian Jennings about the Holocaust Code and what we can learn about the Holocaust from decoded Nazi transmissions. Christian Jennings is a British author and foreign correspondent, and the author of ten non-fiction books of modern history and current affairs. THis latest book is The Holocaust Codes: Decrypting the Final Solution. He has lectured for Bletchley Park on German codebreaking, and from 1994-2012 he spent fifteen years reporting for newspapers and TV on international current affairs and complex war crimes investigations, including genocide and its aftermath, across twenty-three countries in the Western Balkans and Africa. Jennings, Christian. The Holocaust Codes: The Untold Story of Decrypting the Final Solution (2024)Follow on Twitter @holocaustpod.Email the podcast at holocausthistorypod@gmail.comThe Holocaust History Podcast homepage is hereYou can find a complete reading list with books by our guests and also their suggestions here.

Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and editor Staś Kaleta break down Tusk's decision to seek legal provisions for member states to temporarily suspend asylum rights – as well as more news from our Weekly Outlook. Then, Staś Kaleta and Srdjan Cvijić, President of the International Advisory Committee of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, discuss Serbia, Kosovo and the Western Balkans' accession prospects – ten years after the Berlin Process began. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/border-control-tusk-wants-the-eu-to-withhold-some-asylum-rights/

Last week Turkish President Erdogan set out on a tour of the Balkans, visiting Albania and Serbia. The tour kicked off in Albania, with Erdogan gifting a number of drones and inaugurating the largest mosque in the Balkans - which was funded by Turkey. The second leg took him to Serbia, where Turkey made a diplomatic comeback in 2017. Thanos Davelis caught up with expert Dimitar Bechev last week while Erdogan was wrapping up his visit to Belgrade. We looked into Erdogan's Balkan tour, and broke down Turkey's broader agenda in the region.Dimitar Bechev is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, where he focuses on EU enlargement, the Western Balkans, and Eastern Europe, and he is the author of the bookTurkey under Erdogan.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdogan inaugurates mosque in Albania, pledges military drones as he begins Balkan tourTurkey, Serbia Eye Cooperation On Production Of Military DronesAndroulakis celebrates reelection as PASOK leader, vows to end New Democracy's dominanceAndroulakis re-elected PASOK leaderUS has not met its commitments, says Greek defense ministerDendias highlights Greece's military progress

There has been a significant transformation in Europe-China relations over the past decade, with a shift from economic optimism to cautious de-risking. While Europe has sought partnerships with China, particularly in industrial and technological sectors, there are increasing concerns about economic dependencies that may be leveraged by Beijing for political gain. The Russia-Ukraine war has further complicated the dynamic, as China's support for Russia has created divisions within Europe regarding how to engage with China moving forward.In this episode, Janka Oertel explains the key drivers behind Europe's changing relationship with China and the ongoing debates in European policy circles about how to reduce dependencies on Chinese goods, technology, and investments without completely decoupling. She emphasizes that de-risking is not a simple, one-size-fits-all strategy but rather a complex process that varies across European countries and industries.The episode also discusses how China has sought to deepen relationships with countries in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, providing investments through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to gain access to EU markets. Oertel notes that while some EU countries have welcomed Chinese investments, others are growing increasingly wary of Beijing's intentions.The conversation touches on how Europe is looking to collaborate with India and the Global South as part of its broader strategy to diversify partnerships and reduce its reliance on China. The discussion highlights the importance of political will on both sides to make the EU-India relationship a cornerstone of future European foreign policy.Episode Contributors:Janka Oertel is the Director of the Asia Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). Her research focuses on EU-China relations, US-China relations, Asia-Pacific security, and emerging technologies. She is the author of "End of the China Illusion: How We Must Deal with Beijing's Claim to Power."Shibani Mehta is a senior research analyst with the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. Her research focuses on the India-China boundary dispute with the purpose of analyzing India's foreign and security policy decision-making. She also writes extensively on South Asian regional dynamics and minilaterals in the Indo-Pacific.Additional Readings:The End of Germany's China illusion With Janka Oertel by Janka OertelEU-China Relations: De-Risking or De-Coupling—the Future of the EU Strategy Towards China: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2024/754446/EXPO_STU(2024)754446_EN.pdfEuropean Commission's 2019 Strategic Outlook on China: https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2019-03/communication-eu-china-a-strategic-outlook.pdf"China's New International Paradigm: Security First" by Helena Legarda: https://merics.org/en/chinas-new-international-paradigm-security-first"This isn't a new weapon, it is a new world"—three things Oppenheimer tells us about tech. https://www.ias.edu/news/video-2024-public-policy-lecture Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

In the Balkans, governing elites who benefit from partnerships with democratic states and participation in the E.U. integration process are, in some cases, simultaneously furthering the autocratic agendas of Russia and China to leverage geopolitics to their advantage. Donika Emini, executive director of the CiviKos Platform and former Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, joined John K. Glenn, director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, to discuss how local enablers amplify authoritarian influence activities in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. Together they provide a framework for understanding the complex nature of local “Kingpins,” and explore how civil society organizations, like CiviKos, can respond to this significant challenge.    For further insights on related issues, check out the International Forum's companion blog, “Power 3.0 Understanding Modern Authoritarian Influence.” You can find additional resources on the Countering Authoritarian Influence research hub and join the conversation with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.  The views expressed in this podcast represent the opinions and analysis of the participants and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for Democracy or its staff. Photo Credit: Forum Staff

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Keith Brown, a distinguished anthropologist from Arizona State University's Melikian Center. Dr. Brown takes us on a deep dive into the rich and often contentious history of Macedonia, exploring the complexities of historiography and the narratives that shape our understanding of the Balkan region. Join us as Dr. Brown shares his unique journey into the study of Macedonia, revealing how personal and historical narratives intertwine in the pursuit of knowledge. ABOUT THE GUEST Keith Brown is the Director of the Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies, and Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University. During 2021-22 he was on research leave as a Core Fellow at the Collegium for Advanced Studies at the University of Helsinki. He holds a PhD in anthropology from the University of Chicago and a BA in classics from Oxford University. His work focuses on history, culture and politics in the Western Balkans, with a particular emphasis on 20th century Macedonia. He has spent extended time in the region, and his published works include The Past in Question: Modern Macedonia and the Uncertainties of Nation (Princeton University Press, 2003) and Loyal Unto Death: Trust and Terror in Revolutionary Macedonia (Indiana University Press, 2013). PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on December 02, 2023 at the ASEEES Convention in Philadelphia. If you have questions, comments, or would like to be a guest on the show, please email slavxradio@utexas.edu and we will be in touch! PRODUCTION CREDITS Host/Assistant Producer: Taylor Helmcamp Host/Supervising Producer: Nicholas Pierce Assistant EP: Misha Simanovskyy (@MSimanovskyy) Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig (@cullanwithana) Associate Producer: Sergio Glajar Production Assistant: Faith VanVleet Production Assistant: Eliza Fisher SlavX Editorial Director: Sam Parrish Main Theme by Charlie Harper and additional background music by Alex Productions, Blue Dot Sessions) Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (@M_S_Daniel) www.msdaniel.com

In this episode of War & Peace, Olga speaks with Crisis Group's consulting senior Balkans analyst Marko Prelec about the enduring political and ethnic tensions in the Western Balkans. They discuss the looming risk of Bosnia and Herzegovina breaking up amid secessionist threats by authorities in Republika Srpska and grievances among Bosnia's ethnic groups with its political system and its international supervision. They talk about the challenges of reconciliation in Bosnia as the country commemorates the anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide this month. They then unpack the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and Pristina's efforts to assert authority in the Serb-majority north of the country. They also ask about the prospects of EU enlargement to the region and the lessons identified from Balkan efforts to remember, build on, and move past contentious histories. For more about the topics discussed in this episode, check out our EU Watchlist commentary Helping Keep Bosnia and Herzegovina Together and our report Northern Kosovo: Asserting Sovereignty amid Divided Loyalties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Mid Atlantic, host Roifield Brown takes us into the complex political crisis of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country on the brink of division with significant implications for the stability of the Western Balkans. Roifield is joined by Valerie Perry, an independent consultant with the Democratization Policy Council, and Florian Bieber, a professor at the University of Graz, to dissect the factors driving Bosnia's current predicament and the international ramifications of a potential split.Valerie Perry points out that the threats of secession from Milorad Dodik, leader of the Bosnian Serb-controlled territory, are part of a long-standing political strategy. She explains that Dodik's rhetoric serves to distract from pressing domestic issues like brain drain, low wages, and lack of development. Florian Bieber provides a historical context, highlighting the inadequacies of the Dayton Accords, which, while successful in ending the Bosnian war, established a governance system that has proven to be dysfunctional in the long term.Both experts delve into the international dynamics at play. Valerie elaborates on the role of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his increasing nationalist rhetoric, which bolsters Dodik's secessionist threats. Florian broadens the discussion by examining the geopolitical influences of regional actors like Hungary's Viktor Orbán, whose illiberal policies and alliances complicate the EU's stance on Bosnia.As the conversation shifts to potential future scenarios, the guests offer a sobering outlook. Florian envisions a continued status quo, with Bosnia remaining in a state of slow decline unless there is significant external intervention. Valerie warns of the broader implications of corruption and economic stagnation, suggesting that without meaningful reforms and international support, Bosnia's prospects for EU integration remain bleak.Quotes"Dodik's business model is to stoke division, distracting from issues like brain drain and low wages." - Valerie Perry"The Dayton Accords were meant to end the war, not to be a long-term governance solution." - Florian Bieber"Serbia's nationalist rhetoric under Vučić mirrors Russia's strategy of regional influence." - Florian Bieber"Economic development is hampered by instability and corruption, deterring investment." - Valerie Perry"Bosnia could become a cordon sanitaire for migrants, exacerbating its political and social challenges." - Valerie PerryFurther ReadingThe Dayton Accords and their implicationsThe rise of nationalism in SerbiaEconomic disparities in the Western BalkansCorruption and state capture in Southeast Europe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina start by reviewing some of the latest developments in the region, including the start of the Hungarian presidency of the EU, new sanctions against Bosnia and Herzegovina's Respublika Srpska officials, developments in Ukraine and Moldova.   Later, Alexandra and Nina are joined by Emina Bošnjak, Executive Director of the Sarajevo Open Centre- a civil society organization that works on advancing LGBTI+ rights and gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Emina speaks about the history of the LGBTI+ movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans and gives insights into the current situation.  This episode marks the occasion of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Pride which will take place on June 22nd in Sarajevo. Support the podcast. Visit us at: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope 

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina start by catching up on news from the Western Balkans. They also discuss the latest developments in Georgia and Alexandra shares her impressions from a recent trip to Tbilisi.   For the main interview, Alexandra talked with publisher Buzz Poole about his decades of experience working with authors from Southeastern Europe and bringing their stories to Anglophone audiences. Buzz gives listeners a “behind the scenes” look at the publishing world, shares his views on unique themes and aesthetics in fiction from this region, and makes quite a few suggestions for further reading.   You can check out the titles mentioned at https://sandorfpassage.org/  For those wanting to learn more – check out our special bonus content for our patrons, featuring a conversation with Tim Schaffner of Schaffner Press about the upcoming release: The Bone Whisperers: Two Women Scientists and Their Work to Connect Lost Lives in Bosnia-Herzegovina by Taina Tervonen.Listen to it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-181-bone-105302149  Check out New Eastern Europe online at: www.neweasterneurope.eu

GOOD EVENING: The show begins at the Federal Reserve waiting for metrics that illustrate inflation returning to acceptable 2%. Then to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, West Africa, Sought Africa.. To Gaza, to Jerusalem and the UN. The Western Balkans, to Belgrade to the Ivy League due a reckoning for the unacceptable antisemitism of Spring 2024. 1908 Paris

#Russia: Disinformation dominance directed at the Western Balkans & What is to be done? Ivana Stradner, FDD https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-putin-is-turning-serbia-into-a-little-russia-of-the-balkans-5nzxfd3f2 1910 Montenegro, King Nicholas

PREVEW: #SERBIA: Conversation with colleague Ivana Stradner of FDD re the disinformation campaign launched by Russia against Kosovo and in support of the Russian and Chinese ally in the Western Balkans, Serbia.  More later. 1930 Belgrad

#Serbia: #Kosovo: Disinformation weapons in the Western Balkans. Ivana Stradner, FDD https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2024/03/25/serbia-and-russia-want-to-refight-kosovo-this-time-with-disinformation/  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/serbias-vucic-nominates-ally-vucevic-as-prime-minister-designate/ar-BB1kNNyo 1930 Belgrad

GOOD EVENING. The show begins inn Russia where Ukrainian Drones are damagng the large and largelyy undefended refineries.. Then to Pearl Harbor and lessons learned from the 20th Century Wars. To Tehran, rewarded for not HEU to 90%. To Beijing and a gathering of American executives. To the property bubble.  To the South China Sea, Niger, the Southern Border, Gaza, Tehran, Western Balkans, to Albi, France, to TikTok HQ, to Boca Chica., to the Ap 11ollo Program orbiting the moon. 1969 Apollo

#RUSSIA: Information warfare and Big Lies about Ukraine on Social Media;  and the Western Balkans romance the Axis of Resistance.  Ivana Stradner, FDD https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/16/america-must-wake-up-to-putins-lies/ 1915 VILNIUS