Appreciate the piece. Very thoughtful and informative. A helpful rundown of the Balkan border issues. I'm not clear, however, on what solution you might propose. You point out the EU doesn't have the tools or the will; China and Russia won't appeal to international law for such things; and you are indicating that Trump has seized power illegally in the U.S., and is leading a global fascist renewal; I think the answer with Trump is less "sexy," he is largely reverting to 19th Century geopolitics, where power and self interest is the guiding light (the Wilsonian democratic crusade is over, for now). Historically, as you know, the Balkan peoples lived within larger empires/nation states, whether Yugoslavia, the Habsburg Empire, the Ottomans, etc. How do you see a way out? Thank you for your time!
Thanks for your comments. I have no solution at hand. The scenario I was trying to develop is an open-end one, pointing out that everything is possible. It depends a lot on the U.S. politics or plans for the Western Balkans. Grenell already started to meddle into national and regional politics in the Western Balkans which is not a good sign. Fact is that the EU more or less lost its leverage in the Western Balkans, despite EU would need the Western Balkans as the Western Balkans needs EU. In addition, the nationalistic strongmen or bullies in Western Balkans are supported by the nationalistic extremists in the European Union. Orban & Co wouldnt mind having Serbia with his buddy Vucic in the EU, so do other extremists in the European Union. Bringing the countries with autocrats into the EU would strengthen further the extremists in the EU and weaken the EU as a whole. So would it be good for the EU to have additional members who would take the economic advantages, but doesnt adhere to the democratic standards EU pretends to stand for? EU has to be united, but with the given political landscape in Europe this will be difficult
Appreciate the piece. Very thoughtful and informative. A helpful rundown of the Balkan border issues. I'm not clear, however, on what solution you might propose. You point out the EU doesn't have the tools or the will; China and Russia won't appeal to international law for such things; and you are indicating that Trump has seized power illegally in the U.S., and is leading a global fascist renewal; I think the answer with Trump is less "sexy," he is largely reverting to 19th Century geopolitics, where power and self interest is the guiding light (the Wilsonian democratic crusade is over, for now). Historically, as you know, the Balkan peoples lived within larger empires/nation states, whether Yugoslavia, the Habsburg Empire, the Ottomans, etc. How do you see a way out? Thank you for your time!
Thanks for your comments. I have no solution at hand. The scenario I was trying to develop is an open-end one, pointing out that everything is possible. It depends a lot on the U.S. politics or plans for the Western Balkans. Grenell already started to meddle into national and regional politics in the Western Balkans which is not a good sign. Fact is that the EU more or less lost its leverage in the Western Balkans, despite EU would need the Western Balkans as the Western Balkans needs EU. In addition, the nationalistic strongmen or bullies in Western Balkans are supported by the nationalistic extremists in the European Union. Orban & Co wouldnt mind having Serbia with his buddy Vucic in the EU, so do other extremists in the European Union. Bringing the countries with autocrats into the EU would strengthen further the extremists in the EU and weaken the EU as a whole. So would it be good for the EU to have additional members who would take the economic advantages, but doesnt adhere to the democratic standards EU pretends to stand for? EU has to be united, but with the given political landscape in Europe this will be difficult
Very interesting, appreciate the response.