CHALLENGES OF GEOPOLITICAL CONCEPTIONS IN THE BALKANS: THE CASE OF SERBIA

Babić Dr Marko (Docent u Institutu za Evropske Studije, Varšavski Univerzitet), mbabic@uw.edu.pl

Since the collapse of former Yugoslavia and due to its geographic position and geopolitical importance in the Balkans, Serbia has been a subject of continuous interest of global powers. Their goals are focused on internal and external politics of Serbia aiming to achieve the best possible geopolitical position in the country. Using the comparative method of analysis, the paper aims to present the content, forms, and scope of the four main geopolitical conceptions actively operating in Serbia (the US and NATO Atlanticism, Russia\'s Euroasianism, Germany\'s Continentalism and Turkey\'s Neottomanism). In order to keep its diplomatic maneuvering space relatively open and effective, Serbia should not underestimate any of these conceptions always keeping in mind its national and state interests. The only permanent Serbian category in conducting its foreign policy should be: \"A state has no eternal friends but only eternal interests.\"

Keywords: Serbia, geopolitics, Atlanticism, Euroasianism, Neottomanism, Continentalism