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The central country in the Western Balkans, Serbia puzzles observers by balancing its domestic and foreign policy between two competing great powers - Russia and the West. What drives a small country to behave like this? In this book, Vuk Vuksanovic explores the strategic trends which have shaped Serbian foreign policy, beginning in 2008, when the country''s international position was permanently changed by the global financial crisis and the unilateral declaration of independence by Serbia''s former province Kosovo. Since then, this small Balkan country has become a tipping point between two external great powers against each other.Demonstrating how this, and other major international developments have affected the country''s stance towards these great powers, including the Russian annexation of Crimea, Brexit, the migrant crisis, the rise and fall of Donald Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic and the on-going war in Ukraine, Vuksanovic reveals how Serbia has placed itself at the centre of a deeply opportunistic and precariously balanced partnership, which impacts both its domestic and international policy in a multitude of ways.>
List of contents
Foreword
Abbreviations
Illustrations
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Russia and Serbia- Two Hundred Years-Old Dilemma
Chapter 3: Belgrade's Balancing Act and International Context
Chapter 4: The Clashing Elites - Party Politics and Foreign Policy
Chapter 5: The Game Begins - The Serbian Balancing Act 2008-2012
Chapter 6: The Quiet Before the Storm - The Serbian Balancing Act 2012-2014
Chapter 7: The Storm Begins - The Serbian Balancing Act 2014-2018
Chapter 8: Shuffling Cards, 2018-2020
Chapter 9: Into Ukraine Maelstrom: Serbian Balancing Act after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Chapter 10: Conclusion
