From mask to vaccine diplomacy: geopolitical competition in the Western Balkans

<p>One year after it landed in Europe, the Covid-19 pandemic has left a deep mark on the Western Balkans. On the one hand, it has exacerbated geopolitical dynamics that had been ongoing for decades, especially with regards to the activity of external actors. And while the EU has continued to b...

詳細記述

書誌詳細
主要な著者: Tzifakis, N, Prelec, T
その他の著者: Fruscione, G
フォーマット: Book section
言語:English
出版事項: Ledizioni – LEDIpublishing 2021
その他の書誌記述
要約:<p>One year after it landed in Europe, the Covid-19 pandemic has left a deep mark on the Western Balkans. On the one hand, it has exacerbated geopolitical dynamics that had been ongoing for decades, especially with regards to the activity of external actors. And while the EU has continued to be inconclusive, proceeding at a snail's pace with its carrot-and-stick approach, China has seized on the opportunity and expanded its footprint.</p> <p>On the other hand, the pandemic has had deep consequences on domestic politics, too. The two keywords explaining local trends are continuity and new hopes. They are both shaping the speed and direction of democratic transitions or consolidations, which remain far from complete.</p> <p>How has the geopolitical competition among big powers evolved in the Balkans over the last year? What have been the effects of the pandemic on local democratic standards? Is there room for new hopes in terms of regime change and citizen participation?</p>