Please, no more Western Balkan summits
The EU engages in empty diplomatic theater while Balkan disputes fester and the war in Ukraine highlights “Europe’s” limits. By David B. Kanin... Read More
Congratulations, Serbia – leader and model!
The EU begins to adopt Belgrade’s two stool approach to Russia’s war against Ukraine (sort of). By David B. Kanin European notables owe... Read More
Orban and Vucic … and Tito
Skillful security managers can stand astride two stools indefinitely, as long as one of them does not collapse. By David B. Kanin The... Read More
The Ukraine crisis and Great Power rivalry in the Balkans
War or not, current tensions underscore the region’s geopolitical marginality. The outcome regarding Ukraine will suggest which great power is more likely to bend Balkan... Read More
Sovereignty for Metohija
Treat the Serbian Orthodox Church as a respected partner in a comprehensive, single-stage agreement on the status of Kosovo. By David B. Kanin I... Read More
The Bosniak side of the equation
Options in case the Americans once again disappoint Bosnia-Herzegovina’s largest community. By David B. Kanin Once again, Bosnia’s Bosnjak leadership is attempting to create... Read More
The problem with Bosnia’s last High Representative
The ideal role of Bosnia’s last High Representative is to disappear quietly, without any noticing that he is doing it. He needs to evaporate slowly... Read More
What will trigger the next Balkan conflict?
Look past the usual noise emanating from EU-sponsored meetings and the panic of former diplomats and pundits. By David B. Kanin The current security... Read More
Kurti’s momentous opportunity to transform Kosovo
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti stands an excellent chance of succeeding to make Kosovo a model of progressive democracy, advanced economy, and social equality that no... Read More
Sweeten the pot, or there will be no pot
Belgrade would need a good reason to give up its “curse” of leverage. By David B. Kanin Ed Joseph has a serious proposal. It... Read More
Please colonize us.
Balkan Westernizers avoid a post-Imperial world. By David B. Kanin Not long ago, I took part in a conversation about the long-running soap opera... Read More
Constitutional reform in contemporary Bosnia
In this, the second in a series of essays about political reform in post-war Bosnia, the author advances the argument that comprehensive constitutional reform is... Read More
How to exit Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s government institutions have been supervised by an international governing structure called the Office of the High Representative for the past 25 years.... Read More
Kurti in the driver’s seat – of a driverless vehicle
Kosovo’s Prime Minister will retain multiple options no matter how any renewed Western effort to pound out a deal between Pristina and Belgrade turns out.... Read More
Time for Kosovo to secure its true independence
To be sure, the Kosovo public can now exercise their electoral power to demand all of the above and other areas of concern from the... Read More
Bosnia-Herzegovina – where is our ‘own’ Nelson Mandela?
Without the ideal of equal rights and opportunities of Bosnians and Herzegovinians, we will never live truly decent lives in our country. By Haris... Read More
Everything comes to an end: how the DPS lost power in Montenegro
There was no one single factor that brought the DPS down. As with most tectonic social and political changes, the reality is more complex and... Read More
Kosovo needs an election
Hashim Thaci’s indictment blows apart the politically-motivated diplomacy of the last few months. By David B. Kanin The fix was in. Thaci and Isa... Read More
Pathology or opportunity?
The Bosnian Serb Commission on Srebrenica may well produce the usual ethnic-driven propaganda. It does not have to. By David B. Kanin An announcement... Read More
Church, state, and rock and roll
Montenegro’s controversial law on religion is – unusually for Milo Djukanovic – a poorly thought through mistake. By David B. Kanin My son went... Read More
Communal identities are durable. Civic? Not so much.
The Balkans need activists not wedded to the inertia of Western political ideology. By David B. Kanin Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, was... Read More
Vucic’s plan B should become plan A – treat the EU as it treats you
The latest in the series of broken EU promises and failed EU initiatives stand in sharp contrast to the modest but constructive “mini-Schengen” agreement among... Read More
Of tariffs and statehood
At this point, removing the tariffs against Serbia without recognition by Belgrade would be a serious setback to Kosova’s wobbly sovereignty. By David B.... Read More
Albania’s self-consuming corruption undermining path to EU accession
Albania’s future prosperity and security rest on accession to the EU. To that end, it must take all the necessary social and political measures to... Read More
