Just like a century ago – and throughout their entire history – the Balkans remain a zone of structural instability. In this respect, the demise of the Cold War confrontation (and rhetorics) did not bring along the advent of a stable, rule-based environment. Therefore, although the Balkan area is an essentially coherent cultural sub-space, while still being radically diverse, the relations of its constituent states have been marked by a confuse set of bilateral – and adversarial – interactions. Read more ...
Not Just a Bridgehead: EU’s (Possible) Vision for Taiwan
From a geoeconomic perspective, Taiwan represents a hot spot that unites the flows of goods and capital from near mainland China, from the South-East Asian cauldron, as well as a bridgehead for Western transoceanic commerce and investment. Not truly an island (in the sense of isolation), but a focal meeting point between two seas and an (open) ocean, Taiwan strategically lies in one of the best positions in opening up the Asian markets to larger influxes of EU-based products and capital. Read more ...
A (Legally) Turbulent Affair: The Textile Industry in Uzbekistan
When thinking where to invest next, Uzbekistan would not necessarily rank first among your options. Nonetheless, a constant high cotton production, low-wage workforce, a relative proximity to the largest markets, combined with a (seemingly) supportive state agricultural policy and incentives for investors made Uzbekistan’s textile industry an attractive business venue. However, as always, there is another side of the coin. This Mercantile Digest analyzes the challenges (legal and political) of Uzbekistan’s textile industry, while also offering advice for investors in order to prepare themselves in such a delicate economic environment. Read more ...
Australia First Up for New EU Express Trade Deal
An Australia-EU trade agreement may be completed within two years after Australia was announced as one of the first set to benefit from new fast-tracked EU trade deal negotiations. 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.
