Balkan Political Cooperation: Internal Impulses and External Factors Cover Image

Политическото сътрудничество на Балканите: вътрешни импулси и външни фактори
Balkan Political Cooperation: Internal Impulses and External Factors

Author(s): Maria Bakalova, Anton Parvanov
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Geopolitics
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: regional political cooperation;the Balkans;external (f)actors

Summary/Abstract: In the last decades, the subject of the development of the energy sector in the Balkan countries provokes special attention due to its relevance in the context of the changing geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape in Eurasia, as well as the transformations on a global level. The aim of the study is to discuss the main dimensions of the significance of this region and the ambitions of the Balkans to act as a bridge between key energy zones.The paper studies regional cooperation on the Balkans seeking positive instances back in history and focusing on the developments since the end of the Cold war. It seeks to answer the question “Why Balkan political cooperation has been thwarting in the last three decades?” Mostly answers are sought in historical past and experience from previous interactions and/or influence and intervention from extra-regional (f)actors. Our claim, however, is that answers should also be sought on regional and internal political level in the motivation and behavior of regional actors.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 229-246
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Bulgarian