Einfluss ohne Kontrolle. Die Türkei und die Islamischen Gemeinden in Serbien
Influence without Control: Turkey and Islamic Communities in Serbia

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the limitations of Turkey’s transnational authoritarianism in Serbia, with a focus on the country’s Islamic communities. It argues that despite strong political ties between Ankara and Belgrade, Turkey failed to co-opt the dominant Muslim institution in Serbia between 2016 and 2021. The article demonstrates that the success of co-optation depends upon the targeted community’s internal cohesion and its access to external sup-port. The study finds that the Serbian political elites enabled selective repression aligned with Turkish interests. Yet the Novi Pazar-based Mešihat, embedded in Bosniak and Middle Eastern networks, resisted Ankara’s influence. By contrast, the Belgrade-based Rijaset, lacking similar resources and legitimacy, became a willing partner. The article contributes to debates on transnational authoritarianism by highlighting the role of elite religious gatekeepers and the protective effect of ontological security (identity stability) in resisting foreign control.

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