Given their geopolitical position and economic interdependence, in all likelihood, Turkey and the European Union (still) have much to offer each other. Going back from the establishment of the modern republic on the ruins of the former Ottoman Empire, throughout the long Cold War years, and then in the post-9/11 era, Turkey’s officially stated position in the liberal world order has been that of an aspiring Western power and European partner, with Islamic characteristics. Read more ...
The EU Factor: GDP per Capita | #BalkanStats
This is the first material in our Balkan Stats series. Every post will focus on a statistically relevant indicator, briefly showing how the Balkan trends converge or diverge due to the various economic and political allegiances of the constituent states. Comments are reduced to a bare minimum, letting figures do the talking for themselves. This week, Horia Ciurtin - our Senior Expert - depicts how GDP per capita (PPP) varies in accordance with EU membership. Read more ...
Russia’s Interests in Kosovo’s Election
While the EU waited for the elections in Kosovo and hoped that the process would lead to a more stable government that would tackle the true problems of the former Yugoslav entity, the latest negotiations among the political parties have quickly dashed all of those hopes. The PDK-run PAN coalition’s political tango and the power gained by Vetevendosje alone prove that Kosovo could be heading for a crisis that could easily derail the country from the European path. Read more ...
Geopolitical Influence on Media and Media Freedom in the Western Balkans
In the beginning of the ‘2000s, media in the Western Balkans failed to face problems of corruption, manipulation and political propaganda that – in time – evolved to be an easy target for external actors and open possibilities for increasing their soft power in certain countries and, therefore, in the entire region. This brief aims to analyze how globally (or regionally) relevant powers – US, Russia and Turkey – are using the media in Western Balkan countries and its loopholes to maximize their geopolitical interests. Read more ...
North Korea claims to have successfully tested a thermonuclear weapon to be mounted on top of ICBM
In an ever growing escalation of the tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the regime of Kim Jong-Un has performed a new nuclear test on Sunday, the sixth in a row to date and by far the most powerful. Read more ...
On Burdensome Allies: China’s Calculations on North Korea’s Erratic Behavior
During the morning of 29th August, the North Korean leader – Kim Jong-un – ordered his army, one of the most numerous in the world (over a million soldiers) to fire a missile over the Japanese island of Hokkaido, in a gesture of defiance not only toward Japan, but also toward the United States of America (the main protector of South Korea and Japan). Read more ...
The Kurdish Conundrum
In less the one month from now, the Kurdish Regional Government from Iraq shall hold a referendum for determining the fate of the polity: independence or remaining a part of Iraq. The Kurds' struggle to achieve statehood may seem odd in an age when nation states are regarded as obsolete, but the opportunity that arose with the disintegration of the Iraqi state and army in the heyday of the ISIS expansion could not be overlooked. Read more ...
Seeing Other People: Lukashenko’s Balancing Act
It is a hot (geopolitical) summer. In Asia and in Eastern Europe. Away from the North Korean crisis or the Qatar parading blockade, EU-based delegations are increasingly visiting Minsk these months. In one way or another, the European Union and its member states are looking for a readjustment of their relation with the secluded republic on the Eastern flank. Roughly put, Belarus is tucked in a Russian corner that it can hardly escape even if it wished. And it doesn't. Read more ...
The Limits of Iran’s Economic Growth after the JCPOA
Iran is in a favorable situation and it has to make the most of it. However, there are also some challenges that Iran has to address. The structure of the Iranian economy is complicated and inadequate for a steady and healthy growth. This puts a lot of pressure on the Iranian society, especially on the young who want a more substantial change in the country. Read more ...
Along the Silk Road: Russia, Turkey and the New (Chinese) Hegemon
The traditional dynamic of Russia and Turkey has been one of adversity. All elements put into place could – and did – only lead to a series of interminable wars over mastering the Pontic steppes, then the Black Sea, the Balkans and the straits.
