Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
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Explaining Escalation: The Security Dilemma in Three Contemporary International Conflicts
Full text linkThis paper analyzes the security dilemma through a comparative qualitative study of three conflicts: Russia–Ukraine, Israel–Palestine, and Thailand–Cambodia. Despite differences in geography, scale, and actors, all three cases show how mistrust, misperceptions, and defensive actions perceived as offensive drive cycles of escalation. The Russia–Ukraine conflict illustrates a systemic dilemma, shaped by identity, sovereignty, spheres of influence, and NATO expansion. The Israeli–Palestinian case highlights the limits of the framework in asymmetric conflicts, where overt hostility reduces the role of misperception. The Thailand–Cambodia dispute demonstrates how symbolism and identity can escalate a minor territorial dispute into a broader national conflict. Overall, the study confirms the security dilemma as a valuable explanatory tool in International Relations, conditioned by identity, asymmetry, and hegemonic ambitions
Constitutionalizing the Environment in 21st Century Europe: Innovations for Greener Constitutions
Full text linkThis paper analyzes and systematizes innovations in the constitutional entrenchment of environmental protection provisions, moving beyond the mere recognition of the right to a healthy environment or the affirmation of general policy declarations. Using the comparative constitutional method, it examines relevant provisions in the constitutions of France, Montenegro, Hungary, Austria, and Slovenia. The findings reveal significant diversity in the scope and manner of environmental constitutionalization, contrasting with the similarities observed among constitutions adopted in the 1990s. Identified approaches include the integration of environmental law principles, the constitutional recognition of procedural environmental rights, and the establishment of institutions dedicated to environmental protection. These constitutional innovations demonstrate significant potential for broader adoption, thereby strengthening frameworks for environmental protection and enhancing the safeguarding of human rights and liberties
The Portrayal of Religious Freedom in Media Discourse: Evidence from Kosovo
Full text linkThis study examines how religious freedom is portrayed in Kosovo’s media and how citizens perceive related tolerance and hate speech. A quantitative survey (N = 150) was conducted from March to April 2025 across six regions using simple random sampling. While 90% of respondents affirmed that religious freedom exists in Kosovo, only 35% rated media coverage as very good or excellent. Sixty percent believed Muslims receive the most media attention, and half noted that ethical standards in religious reporting are only partially upheld. The findings reveal a gap between the legal guarantee of religious freedom and its representation in the media, with negative narratives and online hate speech undermining democratic values and social cohesion in post-conflict Kosovo.
 
Strategic Hedging in a Multipolar World: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy Transformation Under “Vision 2030”
Full text linkThis paper employs hedging theory to examine the significant transformation in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Drawing on triangulated sources, it analyzes Riyadh’s deliberate effort to maintain strong security ties with Western partners while simultaneously cultivating broad new security relationships with key Eastern actors. The study highlights how this hedging strategy increasingly prioritizes economic and technological cooperation with non-traditional partners, particularly China. Notably, the paper argues that Saudi hedging is not a fixed or static policy but a dynamic, adaptive process shaped by pragmatic, incremental adjustments. These adjustments serve as a strategic bridge, enabling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to respond effectively to shifting geopolitical conditions and expand its influence in an evolving international environment
Geopolitical Determinants of the European Union’s Migration Policy Shift: From Open-Door to Closed-Border Approaches
Full text linkEurope is facing an intensifying migration crisis along the Balkan and Central Mediterranean routes, prompting a shift from earlier open-door policies toward more restrictive approaches. This paper analyzes the geopolitical forces driving the EU’s evolving migration strategy, focusing on border security, demographic pressures, and political tensions within and between EU Member States. Using a multidisciplinary framework and a critical case study design, it examines governmental speeches, media narratives, scholarly research, comparative national policies, and official data. Germany, Hungary, and Sweden are assessed to illustrate contrasting open- and closed-door models and their implications for security, regional stability, and collective EU governance. The study argues that sustainable migration management requires a more balanced, geopolitically informed framework that reconciles security imperatives with the EU’s normative and humanitarian commitments, thereby ensuring long-term stability and coherent policy outcomes across the EU
The Role of Regional Cooperation in Contemporary International Relations: By Sanja Jelisavac Trosic and Mitko Arnaudov (Authors) (Publisher: Institute of International Politics and Economics (IIPE), Belgrade 2024)
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Criminal Dimensions of Forced Sterilization of Romani Women: A Focus on Gender-Based Violence and Deprivation of Liberty
Full text linkThis paper examines the forced sterilization of Romani women as a serious violation of human rights and a fundamental denial of personal liberty. Drawing on legal, sociological, and feminist frameworks, the analysis demonstrates how this practice reflects intersecting forms of racial and gender-based discrimination within healthcare systems and state institutions. Romani women in vulnerable socio-economic circumstances have been systematically denied autonomy over their reproductive choices, highlighting broader patterns of structural exclusion. The findings emphasize the need to address forced sterilization not only as a criminal offense but also as a form of institutionalized violence that requires urgent legal, policy, and institutional reforms to protect personal liberty and advance reproductive justice
Protecting Fundamental Freedoms and Promoting Gender Equality: The Case for Binding Quotas on Macedonian Corporate Boards
Full text linkThis paper analyzes gender balance on the boards of companies listed on the Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE). Despite formal equality, statistics reveal persistent vertical segregation in top management. A comparative assessment places North Macedonia favorably within the Western Balkans and the European Union; however, further progress is still needed. Adopting a legal gender quota, as outlined in Directive (EU) 2022/238, would help close the gap, fulfill obligations under CEDAW, and reinforce the country’s commitment to the United Nations’ fifth Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality, ensuring that fundamental freedoms, gender balance, and equal remuneration are upheld in practice rather than merely acknowledged
The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World : By Tim Marshall (Author) (Publisher: Elliott & Thompson 2023)
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