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12. Serbia Between Brussels, Beijing, and Moscow: A Foreign Policy of Diversification
- Author:
- Nina Markovic Khaze
- Publication Date:
- 08-2025
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA)
- Abstract:
- As global rivalries intensify, Serbia stands at a complex geopolitical juncture. The country is simultaneously pursuing accession negotiations with the European Union (EU), deepening strategic ties with China, and maintaining longstanding relations with Russia.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, European Union, Geopolitics, Diversification, Rivalry, and Strategic Interests
- Political Geography:
- Russia, China, Europe, Eastern Europe, and Serbia
13. Global Islamophobia and the Rise of Populism with Audrey Truschke and Ivan Kalmar (Episode 35)
- Author:
- Audrey Truschke and Ivan Kalmar
- Publication Date:
- 06-2025
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
- Abstract:
- Dr. Audrey Truschke and Professor Ivan Kalmar analyze the alarming global surge in Islamophobic violence and discriminatory policies, particularly in Eastern Europe and South Asia. Our guests explore how economic and political insecurities have fueled dangerous scapegoating of Muslim citizens and refugees, transforming vulnerable religious minorities into targets of state-sanctioned persecution. This thought-provoking episode examines the human cost of populist rhetoric and offers critical insights into one of today's most pressing human rights issues: the systematic marginalization of Muslim communities across national borders. Listen to the conversation on the intersection of religious identity, nationalism, and the global struggle for dignity and belonging. The conversation is based on their contributions to the book Global Islamophobia and the Rise of Populism published by Oxford University Press in 2024.
- Topic:
- Minorities, Refugees, Populism, Discrimination, and Islamophobia
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and Eastern Europe
14. The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
- Author:
- Vasil Pavlov and Siddharth Kanojia
- Publication Date:
- 04-2025
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
- Institution:
- Institute for Research and European Studies (IRES)
- Abstract:
- Immigration has become an increasingly contentious political and social issue in Europe over the past decade. The growing influx of asylum seekers has been driven by deteriorating security conditions, armed conflicts, and political and economic instability in various regions, alongside the comparatively higher living standards in Europe. As a global hegemon, the United States has indirectly shaped migration patterns in peripheral regions such as the Balkans. This paper examines how President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration discourse during his first term (2017–2021) coincided with an approximately 45% decrease in asylum applications from the Balkans. Drawing on official statistics and employing Critical Discourse Analysis, the study explores how US rhetoric influenced regional policy emulation. The findings underscore the transnational impact of populist discourse and call for a critical reassessment of migration governance in key transit regions.
- Topic:
- Migration, Immigration, Populism, Donald Trump, Asylum, and Securitization
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe and Balkans
15. Protecting Fundamental Freedoms and Promoting Gender Equality: The Case for Binding Quotas on Macedonian Corporate Boards
- Author:
- Emilija Gjorgjioska, Margarita Janeska, Tatjana Spaseska, and Aneta Risteska Jankuloska
- Publication Date:
- 07-2025
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
- Institution:
- Institute for Research and European Studies (IRES)
- Abstract:
- This paper analyzes gender balance on the boards of companies listed on the Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE). Despite formal equality, statistics reveal persistent vertical segregation in top management. A comparative assessment places North Macedonia favorably within the Western Balkans and the European Union; however, further progress is still needed. Adopting a legal gender quota, as outlined in Directive (EU) 2022/238, would help close the gap, fulfill obligations under CEDAW, and reinforce the country’s commitment to the United Nations’ fifth Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality, ensuring that fundamental freedoms, gender balance, and equal remuneration are upheld in practice rather than merely acknowledged.
- Topic:
- European Union, Sustainable Development Goals, Corporations, Gender Equality, and Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE)
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Eastern Europe, and North Macedonia
16. Moldova’s EU Path: Between Moscow’s Shadow and Brussels’ Promises
- Author:
- Reinhold Brender
- Publication Date:
- 07-2025
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- EGMONT - The Royal Institute for International Relations
- Abstract:
- In the ongoing confrontation between the European Union and Russia, the Republic of Moldova occupies a critical—though often overlooked—position. While not as militarily pivotal as Ukraine, Moldova’s struggle is no less consequential: it is a contest over national orientation and the future of the European order. Moldova’s plural identity makes it especially vulnerable to Russian interference, complicating its EU accession process and straining internal cohesion. The country’s trajectory mirrors the broader dilemma facing post-Soviet states still defining themselves amid renewed geopolitical rivalry between East and West. Moldova’s future will depend on the decisions of its leaders and electorate, the course of the war in Ukraine, and the EU’s readiness to honour its commitment to membership. The 28 September 2025 parliamentary elections will reveal whether Moldova’s leadership retains a popular mandate to pursue the European path. This policy brief outlines key aspects of the current situation and sets out how the EU can help safeguard the integrity of Moldova’s upcoming elections and support its pro-European trajectory amid heightened geopolitical risk.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Elections, European Union, Foreign Interference, and Regional Politics
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Moldova, and Eastern Europe
17. Instruments of Hybrid Warfare: Dissemination of Pro-Russian Propaganda Narratives Through Populist Politicians in the Slovak Republic
- Author:
- Martin Solik, Dalibor Velký, and Jan Graf
- Publication Date:
- 10-2025
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Revista UNISCI/UNISCI Journal
- Institution:
- Unidad de investigación sobre seguridad y cooperación (UNISCI)
- Abstract:
- This article uses thematic discursive analysis to examine selected pro-Kremlin populist politicians in Slovakia. The enforcement of one-sided propagandist thoughts and opinions, primarily through radical anti-system politicians and 'alternative' media outlets freely available on the internet, has become one of the most important aspects of hybrid warfare in today's world. This paper aims to identify the specific goals of Russian propaganda and clarify how populist politicians spread propaganda on social media through language resources. The results of the analysis are presented at the end of the paper, along with the word resources used by these politicians. The results prove that pro-Kremlin populist politicians use word and language manipulation to help spread unilaterally focused and distorted information in Slovakia. This article aims to build on and complement existing research on pro-Kremlin anti-system politicians and their role in Russia's hybrid warfare in Europe.
- Topic:
- Politics, Media, Populism, Propaganda, and Hybrid Warfare
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Eastern Europe, and Slovakia
18. International Diplomacy at the Rambouillet Conference (6 February –18 March 1999)
- Author:
- Armand Krasniqi
- Publication Date:
- 10-2025
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Revista UNISCI/UNISCI Journal
- Institution:
- Unidad de investigación sobre seguridad y cooperación (UNISCI)
- Abstract:
- The Rambouillet Conference, which took place from 6 February to 18 March 1999, was a pivotal moment in international diplomacy during the Kosovo crisis. Convened by the Contact Group, the conference aimed to negotiate a settlement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership amid escalating violence and mounting humanitarian concerns. The proposed agreement included provisions for substantial autonomy for Kosovo and the deployment of NATO forces to oversee its implementation. It was accepted by the Kosovo Albanian delegation, but rejected by the Yugoslav authorities. Led by Slobodan Milošević, Yugoslavia opposed the presence of foreign troops on its territory, viewing it as a violation of sovereignty. Ultimately, the failure of the negotiations resulted in NATO's military intervention on 24 March 1999, marking a pivotal moment in the Kosovo conflict..
- Topic:
- NATO, Diplomacy, Sovereignty, Humanitarian Intervention, Negotiation, and Rambouillet Conference
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Kosovo, and Yugoslavia
19. Geopolitically mapping Eastern Europe
- Author:
- Marina Ohanjanyan
- Publication Date:
- 10-2025
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations
- Abstract:
- The relationships on the European continent and beyond have shifted dramatically following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This policy brief uses Clingendael’s geopolitical mapping methodology to provide an overview of not only the changes that have occurred among the three Eastern European countries considered at the core of this analysis – Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova – but also their relationships with the wider region and global powers, and the consequences of those shifts for regional dynamics. It visualises how February 2022 crystallised these countries’ positions vis-á-vis each other and other regional and global actors and discusses the ramifications of the geopolitical dynamics in Eastern Europe for the EU approach, providing several recommendations.
- Topic:
- European Union, Geopolitics, Regional Politics, and Russia-Ukraine War
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Ukraine, Moldova, Eastern Europe, and Belarus
20. Albania’s TikTok U-Turn: Trading Regulation for a Ban
- Author:
- Daniel Prroni and Megi Reçi
- Publication Date:
- 03-2025
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM)
- Abstract:
- TikTok is being shut down in Albania, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to regulating digital platforms. This move diverges from the European Union’s policy direction and contradicts the government’s previous commitment to adopting legal measures in line with EU guidelines. Banning social networks does not address the root issues and limits opportunities to educate users and hold platforms accountable. The European Union has emphasized that regulation is the most effective strategy to mitigate the harmful effects of social media and protect fundamental freedoms. The Digital Services Act (DSA) ensures platforms operate in the public interest, establishes clear content moderation rules, and safeguards freedom of speech, providing a more sustainable solution. Read IDM’s publication, which argues that institutions should stay committed to aligning with the DSA and avoid taking counterproductive actions.
- Topic:
- European Union, Regulation, Social Media, TikTok, and Digital Services
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Eastern Europe, and Albania