293
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Serbia in Light of the Global Recomposition

ORCID Icon &
Pages 586-603 | Published online: 01 Feb 2023
 

ABSTRACT

The article assesses the effects of the current global geopolitical recomposition on Serbia, especially in the light of the multidimensional consequences of the current war in Ukraine. The effects of the dominant policies of the main external factors—i.e., the United States, the European Union, Russia, and China—have been analysed from a geopolitical perspective, with the argument put forward being that, following the war in Ukraine, Serbia will find itself on the western side of a New Iron Curtain, which will fall across Europe from the Baltic to the Black Sea as the main geopolitical consequence of current conflict in Ukraine. The aim of the article is to contribute to the existing scholarship in the field by the exploring issues yet to come into the focus of geopolitical analysis in the Serbian context: ‘green’ initiatives, energy and climate change, and COVID-19 vaccines. All these have become extensions of the geopolitics and geo-economics of the key global powers in their efforts to position themselves as best they can in developing a multipolar world.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

[1] М. Степић, Српски геополитички образац [Serbian Geopolitical Pattern], Catena Mundi, Београд, 2019; Д. Пророковић, Геополитика Србије: Положај и перспективе на почетку XXI века [Geopolitics of Serbia: Position and Perspectives at the Beginning of 21st Century], Службени гласник, Београд, 2018; M. Sretenović, ‘Geopolitical position of the western Balkans’, Vojno delo, 62(1), 2010, pp. 53–75; R. Radinovic, ‘Serbia in Jaws of Geopolitics’, The Policy of National Security, 16(1), 2019, pp. 53–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22182/pnb.1612019.3; Dugin, Aleksandr, ‘Russko-serbskaя imperiя protiv imperii amerikanskoй’, Srpska politička misao, 1–2, Beograd, 2008; M. Stepić and S. Dragićević ‘Belgrade Confluence: Geographical Predispositions and Geopolitical Significance’, Serbian Political Thought, 9(1), 2014, pp. 49–65.

[2] V. K. Fouskas and B. Gökay. The Fall of the US Empire: Global Fault-Lines and the Shifting Imperial Order. Pluto Press, London, 2012, p. 150.

[3] Fouskas and Gökay, op. cit., p. 145.

[4] G.J. Ikenberry, ‘American Decline, Liberal Hegemony, and the Transformation of World Politics’, in F. Mérand (ed.), Coping with Geopolitical Decline: The United States in European Perspective. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2020, p. 222.

[5] V. Mionel, S. Neguț and O. Mionel, ‘Pandemopolitics. How a public health problem become a geopolitical and geoeconomic issue’, Eurasian Geography and Economics, 61, 2020, pp. 4–5, 400, DOI: 10.1080/15387216.2020.1828125.

[6] Ikenberry, op. cit., pp. 223, 245.

[7] Under the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1244.

[8] B. Savić, (2014) ‘Where is Serbia? Traditions of Spatial Identity and State Positioning in Serbian Geopolitical Culture’, Geopolitics, 19(3), 2014, pp. 684–718, DOI: 10.1080/14650045.2014.915808; A. Habova, ‘Southeast Europe In The New Geopolitical Context’. International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences 2(4), 2016, pp. 40–48; F. Boedeltje and H. van Houtum, ‘Brussels is Speaking: The Adverse Speech Geo-Politics of the European Union Towards its Neighbours’, Geopolitics, 16(1), 2011, pp. 130–145, DOI: 10.1080/14650045.2010.493791; S. Samaradzić, ‘Evolution of the Relations between Serbia and the European Union’. Stosunki Międzynarodowe 51(1), 2015, pp. 141–152; D. Jano, ‘From “Balkanization” to “Europeanization”: The Stages of Western Balkans Complex Transformations’. L’Europe en Formation, 2008, 349–350, pp. 55–69. https://doi.org/10.3917/eufor.349.0055; M. Vračar, and J. Šaranović, ‘EU geopolitical positioning in multipolar world and its impact on the strategic determination of the Republic of Serbia’. Vojno delo, 69(8), 2017, pp. 113–128.

[9] М. Степић, op. cit., p. 397.

[10] M. Stepić, ‘Western Balkan: An example of the geographical misinterpretation and geopolitical manipulation’, National Interest, 8, 15(3), pp. 9–34.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Lj. Mitrović, ‘The geopolitical transition of the Balkans and new Europe and their role in the context of the monocentric world globalization’, Ekonomika, Journal for Economic Theory and Practice and Social Issues, no. 54, 2008, pp. 9–14.

[13] European Parliament Resolution of 25 March 2021 on the 2019–2020 Commission Reports on Kosovo 2019/2172(INI), para. 63.

[14] European Commission, Serbia 2021 Report, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Strasbourg, 19.10.2021. SWD(2021) 288 final, p. 125.

[15] China in the Balkans, < https://china.balkaninsight.com> (20 September 2021).

[16] J. F. Leonardo, ‘Combining the “belt” with the roads at the heart of Europe: Geopolitics of the BBSP corridor’, Megatrend revija, 15(3), 2018, p. 210. https://doi.org/10.5937/MegRev1803207J.

[17] R. Standish, Lj. Cvetkovic and M. Zivanovic, ‘China Deepens Its Balkans Ties Using Serbian Universities’, Radio Free Europe, 11 May 2021, < https://www.rferl.org/a/china-balkans-ties-using-serbian-universities/31249503.html> (17 December 2021).

[18] S. Lange, Z. Nechev and F. Trauner (eds.), Resilience in the Western Balkans, ISSUE Report No. 36. EU Institute for Security Studies, Luxembourg, 2017, p. 5.

[19] The White House. Fact Sheet: President Biden and G7 Leaders Launch Build Back Better World (B3W) Partnership. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/12/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-g7-leaders-launch-build-back-better-world-b3w-partnership> (10 December 2021).

[20] Government of the United Kingdom. PM launches new initiative to take Green Industrial Revolution global. Press release. 1 November 2021. <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-launches-new-initiative-to-take-green-industrial-revolution-global> (10 December 2021).

[22] Ibid.

[23] European Council. Council of the European Union. Informal meeting of the Heads of State or Government. Versailles Declaration, 10 and 11 March 2022 < https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/54773/20220311-versailles-declaration-en.pdf> (25 April 2022).

[24] European Commission. State aid: Commission adopts Temporary Crisis Framework to support the economy in context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Brussels, 23 March 2022 < https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_22_1949> (25 April 2022).

[26] Western Balkans Summit, Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans of 10 November 2020, <https://berlinprocess.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Leaders-Declaration-on-the-Green-Agenda-for-the-WB.pdf> (10 August 2021).

[27] European Commission. Western Balkans: An Economic and Investment Plan to support the economic recovery and convergence. Press release. 6 October 2020. <https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_1811> (28 November 2021).

[28] European Commission. Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic And Social Committee And The Committee Of The Regions—The European Green Deal, 2020.

[29] C. Fetting, ‘The European Green Deal’, ESDN Report, December 2020, ESDN Office, Vienna, p. 14.

[30] European Union. A European Green Deal/< https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019–2024/european-green-deal_en> (11 December 2021).

[31] M. Leonard, J. Pisani-Ferry, J. Shapiro, S. Tagliapietra and G. Wolff. ‘The geopolitics of the European Green Deal’, Policy Brief, European Council on Foreign Relations, February 2021.

[32] Ibid., p. 6.

[33] D. McHugh and V. Isachenkov, ‘Explainer: Europe lacks natural gas. Is it Russia’s fault?’ AP, 17 November 2021.

[34] J. Ambrose. ‘Gazprom profits as Russia prospers from Europe’s gas crisis’, The Guardian, 13 December 2021; R. Davies, ‘Kremlin denies restricting gas supplies to Europe for political gain’, The Guardian, 22 December 2021.

[35] European Commission. State of the Energy Union 2021 - Contributing to the European Green Deal and the Union’s recovery (pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action). Brussels, 26.10.2021. COM (2021) 950 final. p. 2.

[37] Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, no. 26/2021.

[38] Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, no. 25/2013 and 40/2021.

[39] Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, no. 40/2021.

[40] The Program for the implementation of the Energy Development Strategy of Serbia until 2025 with projections until 2030 for the period from 2017 to 2023, 26 October 2017.

[41] I. Todorović, ‘Serbia issues draft spatial plan for coal-fired thermal power plant Kolubara B’, Balkan Green Energy News, 8 June 2020. https://balkangreenenergynews.com/serbia-issues-draft-spatial-plan-for-coal-fired-thermal-power-plant-kolubara-b/ (4 December 2021).

[42] Balkan Green Energy News, ‘Serbia’s coal-fired thermal power plants to keep working until 2050’, Balkan Green Energy News, 27 May 2021. < https://balkangreenenergynews.com/serbias-coal-fired-thermal-power-plants-to-keep-working-until-2050/> (4 December 2021).

[43] M. Petkova, ‘A Coal-Free Future Leaves China’s Engagement in the Balkans Uncertain’, China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe (CHOICE), 21 October 2021. < https://chinaobservers.eu/a-coal-free-future-leaves-chinas-engagement-in-the-balkans-uncertain/> (12 December 2021).

[44] V. Spasić, ‘EPS plans to extend lifespan of TPP Kostolac A until 2038’, Balkan Green Energy News, 15 October 2020. <https://balkangreenenergynews.com/eps-plans-to-extend-lifespan-of-tpp-kostolac-a-until-2038/> (10 December 2021).

[45] Balkan Green Energy News, ‘China’s Sinomach eyes renewable energy projects in Serbia’, 11 November 2021. <https://balkangreenenergynews.com/chinas-sinomach-eyes-renewable-energy-projects-in-serbia/> (10 December 2021).

[46] ‘Statement by H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September 2021. < https://estatements.unmeetings.org/estatements/10.0010/20210921/AT2JoAvm71nq/KaLk3d9ECB53_en.pdf> (11 December 2021).

[47] J. Prtoric, ‘Serbia forges ahead with China-backed coal power plant’, China Dialogue, 6 April 2021, < https://chinadialogue.net/en/climate/serbia-forges-ahead-with-china-backed-coal-power-plant/> (23 December 2021).

[48] B. Stojkovski et al., ‘China in the Balkans: Controversy and Cost’, 15 December 2021, https://balkaninsight.com/2021/12/15/china-in-the-balkans-controversy-and-cost/ (24 December 2021).

[49] BIRN, ‘China in the Balkans’, < https://china.balkaninsight.com> (25 December 2021).

[50] A. Łoskot-Strachota, M. Seroka and M. Szpala, ‘TurkStream on the diversifying south-eastern European gas market’, OSW Commentary, Warsaw, Centre for Eastern Studies, no. 388, 8 April 2021, < https://www.osw.waw.pl/sites/default/files/OSW_Commentary_388.pdf> (22 December 2021).

[51] R. Balfour, ‘Enlargement: What roe for resilience?’, in S. Lange, Z. Nechev and F. Trauner (eds.), Resilience in the Western Balkans, ISSUE Report No. 36. EU Institute for Security Studies, Luxembourg, 2017, p. 19.

[52] V. Spasić, ‘Serbia mulls construction of its own nuclear power plant’, Balkan Energy News, 24 November 2021, < https://balkangreenenergynews.com/serbia-mulls-construction-of-its-own-nuclear-power-plant/> (25 December 2021).

[53] M. Dokmanović, ‘Klima kao politički instrument za kontrolu država i ljudi’, [Climate as a Political Instrument of Controlling States and People], Book of Abstracts. Legal and Social Responses to Climate Changes: new strategic framework in Serbia, Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade, 2021, p. 23. <http://idn.org.rs/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IDN_Knjige_sazetaka_Klimatske_promene-final.pdf>.

[54] EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, ‘FDIs to Serbia’, < https://europa.rs/fdis-to-serbia/?lang=en> (20 December 2021).

[55] H. Ritchie et al., ‘Coronavirus Vaccinations: Share of people who received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 13 February 2021’, Published online at OurWorldInData.org, <https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations> (15 February 2021).

[56] M. Seputyte, 2021. ‘Lithuania Won’t Buy Russian Vaccine It Deems a Geopolitical Tool’. Bloomberg News, 9 February 2021. <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-09/lithuania-won-t-buy-russian-vaccine-it-deems-a-geopolitical-tool> (13 February 2021).

[57] DW News, ‘Coronavirus digest: Iran begins vaccination campaign’. DW News, 9 February 2021 https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-digest-iran-begins-vaccination-campaign/a-56505993(12 February 2021).

[58] Manufactured by BioNTech (Germany), Pfizer (USA), Janssen-Cilag International (Belgium), Novavax (USA), Moderna (USA) and AstraZeneca (the United Kingdom/Sweden). European Medicines Agency, ‘COVID-19 vaccines> authorised’, authorised” title=“https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/treatments-vaccines/vaccines-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-authorised Ctrl+Click to follow link” element-type=“link”>https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/treatments-vaccines/vaccines-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-authorised (24 December 2021).

[59] G. Lozano, ‘Vaccine Diplomacy: A New Cold War’. Americas Quarterly, 11 February 2021 <https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/vaccine-diplomacy-a-new-cold-war/> (8 September 2021).

[60] M. Savic, and A. Dudik, ‘China Is Helping Ally Serbia Get Ahead of the EU on Vaccines’. Bloomberg News, 2 February 2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/china-is-helping-ally-serbia-get-ahead-of-the-eu-on-vaccines (13 February 2021).

[61] H. Ritchie et al., ‘Coronavirus Vaccinations: Source information country by country’, Published online at OurWorldInData.org, 23 December 2021, <https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations> (23 December 2021).

[63] The Government of the Republic of Serbia, ‘Gratitude to China for helping Serbia to fight COVID-19’, 1 May 2020, https://www.srbija.gov.rs/vest/en/155436/gratitude-to-china-for-helping-serbia-to-fight-covid-19.php (20 December 2021); TAS Russian News Agency, ‘Serbian President thanks Russia for new batch of Sputnik V vaccine’, 28 May 2021, https://tass.com/world/1295611 (20 December 2021).

[64] European Commission, Serbia 2021 Report, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Strasbourg, 19.10.2021. SWD(2021) 288 final, p. 126.

[65] I, Ioannides, ‘The European Union and the geopolitics of COVID-19 vaccines in the Western Balkans’, ELIAMEP Policy Brief, 146, 2021, p. 6.

[66] Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ‘Selaković: Vaccines are not a matter of geopolitics but of humanity’, 2 April 2021, < https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/node/3959> (22 December 2021).

[67] S. Dragojlo, ‘Serbia signs Agreement to Produce Chinese Sinopharm Vaccine’, Balkan Insight, 13 July 2021, <https://balkaninsight.com/2021/07/13/serbia-signs-agreement-to-produce-chinese-sinopharm-vaccine/> (20 December 2021).

[68] Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Albania, ‘Prime Minister Brnabic at Global COVID-19 summit organized by White House’, 22 September 2021, https://www.tirana.mfa.gov.rs/newstext.php?subaction=showfull&id=1632394179&ucat=19&(20 December 2021).

[69] V. Vuksanovic, ‘Kosovo: the goal of Serbia’s global ‘vaccine diplomacy’, EUobserver, 10 September 2021. < https://euobserver.com/opinion/152849> (23 December 2021).

[70] N. Cvetićanin and A. Đokić, ‘Security position of Serbia in Europe today—concept of security neutrality and options of modelling Serbian neutrality according to Swiss neutrality model’, in Thematic conference proceedings of international significance Archibald Reiss Days, Vol. II, 2015, pp. 37-47.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was written as part of the 2022 Research Programme of the Institute of Social Sciences with support from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 383.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.