Politics

Serbia: disinformation as political strategy

19/09/2017 -  Dragan Janjić Belgrade

Media lynching for those who do not toe the government line, judicial authorities that do not protect citizens, independent journalists accused of conspiracy. This is Vučić's Serbia

Albania: new government, old drill

05/09/2017 -  Tsai Mali

Confirmations, continuity and little innovation in Tirana's new socialist government, increasingly resembling its leader Edi Rama

Higher education is reinforcing Kosovo's ethnic divide

15/08/2017 -  Ervjola Selenica*

Despite years of international efforts aimed at integration, the system of higher education in Kosovo continues to reflect and replicate the country’s deep ethnic divisions

Macedonia-Bulgaria, "brother peoples"

11/08/2017 -  Ilcho Cvetanoski Skopje

The reactions in Macedonia to the good-neighbour agreement between Skopje and Sofia, between ideological U-turns by traditional parties and the praise of the Orthodox monks

Bulgaria and Macedonia, good neighbours?

11/08/2017 -  Francesco Martino Sofia

The signing of the good-neighbour agreement with Macedonia, long pursued by Bulgaria, is undoubtedly a success for Sofia's diplomacy. However, the practical and long-term effects of the agreements remain to be seen

Macedonia, the sun sets on Skopje 2014

08/08/2017 -  Giovanni Vale

Skopje 2014 was the trademark project of former PM Gruevski, aimed at transforming the capital and celebrating nationalism. With the change of government, the art of colourful protest has risen to power and tries to de-aestheticise the old regime

"Each time, it hurts more". Srebrenica, 22 years later

14/07/2017 -  Alfredo Sasso

A "war for truth" is being fought today in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a clash based on ethnic competition, with words and stories about the past as the main weapons

Political instability in the Balkans: the remedies are long-term

11/07/2017 -  Marzia BonaFrancesco Martino

Experts increasingly warn about the serious risks stemming from the consolidation of a vicious “stabilitocracy”. The focus of European and Western interests in the Balkans shifted from democratisation and human rights to security issues

To vote or not to vote in the Rama era?

10/07/2017 -  Nicola Pedrazzi

Albanian democracy needs a challenger to its undisputed leader

Azerbaijan and Europe

07/07/2017 -  Arzu Geybullayeva

The Azerbaijani regime should harbor no illusions. It will never achieve a strategic partnership agreement with the EU like those obtained by the US, Canada, China, Japan, Brazil and others

Turkey: EU funds, authoritarianism, and civil society

06/07/2017 -  Fazıla Mat

For over 10 years, Turkey has received EU funds supporting reforms and democratisation. In light of the country's authoritarian drift, however, many wonder whether this strategy still makes sense

The political awakening of Croatia's islands

27/06/2017 -  Giovanni Vale

The islanders of Croatia want to be protagonists of their future, and their voices have arrived to Zagreb. A review

Montenegro's young politicians on the rise

14/06/2017 -  Nicola Pedrazzi

An interview with Vladimir Jokić, 29, mayor of the historic city of Kotor and member of the newborn opposition party Democratic Montenegro

RECOM looks at Trieste summit as a chance for relaunch

13/06/2017 -  Cecilia Borrini

Next July, the fourth summit of the Western Balkans will take place in Trieste. The RECOM coalition looks at the event as an occasion for revival and has gathered thousands of signatures from citizens of the region

Serbia: the coronation of the new president

09/06/2017 -  Antonela Riha Belgrade

On May 31st, Aleksandar Vučić left the position of prime minister to become head of state, with a ceremony that reminded many of a coronation

Chechnya’s courts: a tool for the authorities and a thorn in their side

07/06/2017 -  Kazbek Chanturiya

It is no secret that the courts in Russia fail to maintain their independence from the government. This is perhaps most acute of all in Chechnya

Agreement reached, Albania will vote on June 25th

06/06/2017 -  Tsai Mali

Finally, socialists and democrats found an agreement that will allow regular elections to take place. But at what price? And is the situation really back to "normal"? A comment

Serbia, political pressure on independent institutions

01/06/2017 -  Dragan Janjić Belgrade

An interview with Rodoljub Šabić, Commissioner for information of public interest and the protection of personal data – together with the Ombudsman, among the most mistreated institutions in Serbia

A plan to strengthen the social dimension of Europe

24/05/2017 -  Sara Gradilone

The European Commission's proposal to create a European Pillar of Social Rights is a step towards an integrated and coherent framework on social rights at the European level. This will also provide member states with a frame of reference for developing their own individual policies

Kosovo: early elections, again

16/05/2017 -  Francesco Martino

The awkward government alliance between PDK and LDK lasted little more than two years: last Wednesday, it was ended by a motion of no confidence. Kosovo is now preparing for new early elections, scheduled for June 11th

The Battle between the Media and Politics in Europe

03/05/2017 -  Mogens Blicher Bjerregård* Bruxelles

Increasing tensions between the interest of media and politics pose a serious threat for European democracy. An editorial by Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

A New Town in Socialist Yugoslavia in comparative perspective

25/04/2017

Socialist towns in Yugoslavia: Ana Kladnik discusses with Andreas Guidi the case of Velenje in Slovenia

Turkey: “Say no!”

14/04/2017 -  Dimitri Bettoni Istanbul

On the eve of the constitutional referendum in Turkey, Yordam Kitap publishing house issues Wolfgang Borchert’s manifesto, giving it the emblematic title “Say no!”. An interview with editorial director Hayri Erdoğan

Belgrade's voices of protest

14/04/2017 -  Giovanni Vale Belgrade

Having decided to protest until the bitter end, the students of Serbia have received the support of both the police union and the military - "Against dictatorship", against nepotism and corruption

Serbia: propaganda and control on the web

28/03/2017 -  Rossella Vignola

The impact of cyber-attacks, digital surveillance and sophisticated techniques of computational propaganda is growing. The case of Serbia in an interview with Vladan Joler, director of Share Foundation

Greece: Golden Dawn not willing to fade

27/03/2017 -  Elvira Krithari Athens

Despite the arrest of its leadership, on trial for the murder of rapper Pavlos Fyssas, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn movement continues to have support in the impoverished Greek society

Between institutions and movements, the challenges of Moldovan feminism

08/03/2017 -  Francesco Brusa

A conversation with two women, Valentina Borug and Victoria Apostol, on their strategies to lead the way in the debate on feminism and gender issues in Moldova

Defending in Court the case of humanitarian visas for refugees

06/03/2017 -  Francesca Spinelli

The EU Court of Justice Advocate General Paolo Mengozzi demonstrated that governments are legally obliged to grant asylum to Syrian refugees. In a landmark verdict to be delivered on 7 March, the Court could decide to adopt Mengozzi’s arguments or to strike a blow to the hopes of so many Syrians

Azerbaijan: a 21st century dynasty

01/03/2017 -  Arzu Geybullaeva

President Ilham Aliyev has recently appointed his wife to the position of vice-president of the country, confirming that Azerbaijan is, slowly but steadily, turning from a democracy into a monarchy

A tale of 8 militant asylum seekers. Another episode in the Greek-Turkish relations drama

23/02/2017 -  Elvira Krithari Athens

After the July 2016 failed military coup, 8 Turkish servicemen requested asylum in Greece. The case sparked new tension in the traditionally strained relationship between Athens and Ankara