The Western Balkans region has become a battleground for global powers vying for influence. With ongoing geopolitical tensions and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, this competition is likely to continue. The impact of this competition on the region's adherence to the rule of law is concerning, with scholars observing signs of backsliding, "stabilitocracies," and weakened EU conditionality. The involvement of other geopolitical actors has led the EU to adopt a more instrumental approach, deemphasizing the rule of law as a diplomatic objective. Local elites have also leveraged this competition to sidetrack European democratization efforts. To counter these threats, the EU must develop a new set of policies that protect and promote the rule of law in the Western Balkans while competing with autocratic powers. Rather than adopting a pragmatic and norm-free strategy, the EU should reinforce its "normative power" approach and prioritize democratic institutions and values. This will allow the EU to maintain its political distinctiveness and provide a normative soft power advantage over competitors.
Mi 05 Jun 2024 | 16:00–17:00
Geopolitical Competition and the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans
Fellow Talk by Marius Ghincea (European University Institute) | Chair: Bohdan Bernatskyi (European University Institute) | Discussant: Andi Hoxhaj (University College London)
Marius Ghincea is a PhD Researcher at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, pursuing a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences. Simultaneously, he is a Research Fellow at the Hertie School, Centre of International Security, in Berlin. His research agenda focuses on the causes of foreign and security policy consensus in liberal democracies and has expertise on issues related to the EU’s foreign and security policy, global political ordering, Black Sea security, and transatlantic relations. He also provides policy-oriented consultancy to various private and public actors.
Prior to joining the European University Institute in 2019, he worked for various think tanks specialized in foreign and security policy, political risk and provided freelance assistance to interested actors. He worked in Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the United States.
The Fellow Talk will be chaired by Bohdan Bernatskyi, and Andi Hoxhaj will be the discussant.
