Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy
This article examines Serbia’s approach to European integration and relations with Russia and its implications for its internal and foreign policy. Serbia’s policy is characterized as a “small state” foreign policy designed to maintain good relations with the EU and Russia, believing that this will...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Međunarodni Problemi |
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| Online Access: | https://internationalproblems.rs/wp-content/uploads/MP/2023/1/MP-2023-1-article-2.pdf |
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| author | Ana Jović-Lazić Ivona Lađevac |
| author_facet | Ana Jović-Lazić Ivona Lađevac |
| author_sort | Ana Jović-Lazić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines Serbia’s approach to European integration and relations with Russia and its implications for its internal and foreign policy. Serbia’s policy is characterized as a “small state” foreign policy designed to maintain good relations with the EU and Russia, believing that this will help it overcome internal and international challenges. in light of the tense relations between the West and Russia, the article examines how this policy has developed over the last two decades and whether it is sustainable in changed international circumstances. it focuses on the fact that Serbia’s approach toward the EU and Russia has shown continuity despite the growing polarization at the international level caused by the crisis in Ukraine in 2014. However, due to the rapid and dramatic deterioration of EU-Russia relations caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Serbia’s current policy has become very difficult to maintain. Serbia’s pragmatic policy, shaped by internal and foreign political interests and guided by a series of economic, legal, and security arguments, was put to the test. These arguments have emerged as new key trends in Serbia and can be traced through the state’s response to the war in Ukraine and the EU and Russia’s responses to the country’s policy. Serbia found itself under pressure from both sides to choose one side over the other, which causes tension and uncertainty and put the country in a difficult position. This article shows that despite the pressure and expectations of both sides, there was no drastic change in Serbia’s policy towards the EU or Russia. However, the fact is that there is less space for the fulfillment of the country’s foreign policy priorities, which now seem mutually incompatible. Therefore, in a broader sense, this article calls into question the sustainability of Serbia’s current foreign policy as a framework for preserving the strategic and national interests of the country. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e04792896e2840a2be7d6f6829d1abd6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0025-8555 2406-0690 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Međunarodni Problemi |
| spelling | doaj-art-e04792896e2840a2be7d6f6829d1abd62024-12-16T17:47:15ZengInstitute of International Politics and Economics, BelgradeMeđunarodni Problemi0025-85552406-06902023-02-01751396410.2298/MEDJP2301039JSerbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policyAna Jović-Lazić0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4155-2042Ivona Lađevac1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4052-4426Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade, SerbiaThis article examines Serbia’s approach to European integration and relations with Russia and its implications for its internal and foreign policy. Serbia’s policy is characterized as a “small state” foreign policy designed to maintain good relations with the EU and Russia, believing that this will help it overcome internal and international challenges. in light of the tense relations between the West and Russia, the article examines how this policy has developed over the last two decades and whether it is sustainable in changed international circumstances. it focuses on the fact that Serbia’s approach toward the EU and Russia has shown continuity despite the growing polarization at the international level caused by the crisis in Ukraine in 2014. However, due to the rapid and dramatic deterioration of EU-Russia relations caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Serbia’s current policy has become very difficult to maintain. Serbia’s pragmatic policy, shaped by internal and foreign political interests and guided by a series of economic, legal, and security arguments, was put to the test. These arguments have emerged as new key trends in Serbia and can be traced through the state’s response to the war in Ukraine and the EU and Russia’s responses to the country’s policy. Serbia found itself under pressure from both sides to choose one side over the other, which causes tension and uncertainty and put the country in a difficult position. This article shows that despite the pressure and expectations of both sides, there was no drastic change in Serbia’s policy towards the EU or Russia. However, the fact is that there is less space for the fulfillment of the country’s foreign policy priorities, which now seem mutually incompatible. Therefore, in a broader sense, this article calls into question the sustainability of Serbia’s current foreign policy as a framework for preserving the strategic and national interests of the country.https://internationalproblems.rs/wp-content/uploads/MP/2023/1/MP-2023-1-article-2.pdfserbiaforeign policynational interesteuropean integrationthe european unionrussiarussia-ukraine war |
| spellingShingle | Ana Jović-Lazić Ivona Lađevac Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy Međunarodni Problemi serbia foreign policy national interest european integration the european union russia russia-ukraine war |
| title | Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy |
| title_full | Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy |
| title_fullStr | Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy |
| title_short | Serbia’s approach to the EU and Russia – Implications for its internal and foreign policy |
| title_sort | serbia s approach to the eu and russia implications for its internal and foreign policy |
| topic | serbia foreign policy national interest european integration the european union russia russia-ukraine war |
| url | https://internationalproblems.rs/wp-content/uploads/MP/2023/1/MP-2023-1-article-2.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anajoviclazic serbiasapproachtotheeuandrussiaimplicationsforitsinternalandforeignpolicy AT ivonalađevac serbiasapproachtotheeuandrussiaimplicationsforitsinternalandforeignpolicy |