Garčević Discusses Progress in the Balkans in New Op-Ed
Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published an op-ed in Balkan Insight discussing the prospect of sweeping political change in the Balkans.
In the article, titled “The Times They Are a-Changin’: But For Better or Worse,” Garčević discusses the changing political landscape in the Balkans, party infighting fueled by nationalism and xenophobia, vaccine diplomacy in the region, and how the country fairs compared to 20 years ago. Looking back, he argues that the Balkans has not seen the progress its envisioned, stating that “after several years of enthusiasm, the economic and political conditions in the region have deteriorated sharply” and membership in the European Union is still a distant prospect.
An excerpt:
The economic and political conditions in the region have deteriorated sharply. Given the fact that the EU is in sleep mode when it comes to the Western Balkans, the concept of corporate, illiberal governance seems to be bearing fruit. Illiberal tendencies will continue to grow as long as there is nothing to stop them, and they have a strong driving force behind them – unconstrained nationalism. We are experiencing a revival of chauvinism, hate speech and various forms of discrimination towards ethnic, religious and sexual minorities.
Changing faces is not enough. We lack modern policies, new narratives and value orientation. And I don’t see them on the horizon.
The full op-ed can be read on Balkan Insight‘s website.
During his diplomatic career, Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He had been a Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as a Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about Ambassador Garčević on his faculty profile.