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China’s economic rise has been increasingly accompanied by attempts to exert political and diplomatic influence, as well as to promote its political model and values. Its novel foreign policy approach has put China at odds with the USA and other Western powers, including the EU and several member states, especially after China’s retaliation following EU’s sanctions against 4 Chinese officials. In such an increasingly polarized geopolitical landscape, the Western Balkans could be faced with difficult choices and decisions. While admittedly they are entitled to maintain and develop their cooperation with China, they will have to make sure that it is conducted in a way that does not hamper their EU accession process and does not alienate their Western partners. Hence, it will be imperative for them to build their strategic position on a balanced foundation of values and interests.
Having this in mind in the past period the KAS in cooperation with the Association for strategy development, research, education and promotion of international values – ESTIMA were dedicated on issuing a Policy Brief titled as “From Rule-Taker to Rule-Shaper? China’s Changing Global Role and its Implications for the Western Balkans”. The paper prepared by Ana Krstinovska examinates the current dilemmas that the Western Balkan countries may be facing in light of the recent EU-China developments, to weigh the potential benefits and risks of the cooperation with China, to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of China’s presence in the Western Balkans and to provide recommendations that could help policymakers both in the region and in the EU to make informed choices regarding China related issues.
The Policy Brief will be officially presented to the wider public in the frame of the upcoming online event “From Rule-Taker to Rule-Shaper? China’s Changing Global Role and its Implications for the Western Balkans”, scheduled on 29. April 2021 starting at 11:00 a.m.
The event will be opened by Daniel Braun, Official Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in North Macedonia. Moderator of the event will be Zoran Necev from the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje.
The following speakers will give their input on the topic:
David Merkle, Desk Officer for China at the Department of European and International Cooperation by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Berlin;
Ana Krstinovska, ESTIMA - Association for strategy development, research, education and promotion of international values / Current KAS Scholar;
Igor Novakovic, International and Security Affairs Centre - ISAC Fund, Belgrade / Former KAS Scholar.
The Working language on the event will be English.
You will receive your access data for the event after your registration.
