The Western Balkans: Arena of Rivalry among Global and Regional Actors
The Western Balkans: Arena of Rivalry among Global and Regional Actors

Author(s): Georgi Chankov
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Geopolitics
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: European Union; Western Balkans; global and regional powers; rivalry
Summary/Abstract: The European Union is implementing the "transforming force" strategy towards the countries of Southeast Europe. The Union can expect no economic benefits from adopting theseunderdeveloped countries. Besides, the Western Balkan countries have unsolved problems thatcould be transferred to the EU itself in the process of inclusion. Nevertheless, the EU cannot afford to withdraw from the region because of the already invested financial and political capitalthere. Due to their geographic and geopolitical location, the Western Balkans are subject of rivalry among the USA, Russia, China and Turkey. This rivalry threatens the EU with loss of its farpartial control there. In this competition the EU faces great difficulty in defining its strategy towards the region.

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