Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
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How Democracies Die : By Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblat (Authors) (Publisher: Crown Publishing 2018)
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The Trump Revolution: A New Order of Great Powers: By Alexander Dugin (Author) (Publisher: Arktos Media Limited 2025)
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Consular Protection in Crisis: Vietnam’s Response During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Full text linkConsular protection represents a core function through which states uphold their responsibilities and deliver essential services to citizens residing or traveling abroad, particularly during times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to these efforts, testing the capacity of governments worldwide. Vietnam, despite being a middle-income country with limited resources, mounted an effective response to protect its citizens overseas. This article presents Vietnam’s experience as an instructive case study, analyzed through the lens of Tindall and ’t Hart’s general analytical framework for consular protection in emergency situations. The findings highlight the importance of adapting existing theoretical frameworks to better reflect the constraints faced by developing countries and to address the complexities introduced by globally disruptive crises.
Implementing Children’s Rights in the Western Balkans: Institutional Challenges and International Compliance
Full text linkChildren’s rights, including access to education and healthcare, protection from abuse, and participation in decisions affecting their lives, are fundamental human rights established by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) have ratified the UNCRC and aligned their national legislation with international and regional standards. However, practical implementation remains uneven due to institutional weaknesses, limited resources, socio-cultural barriers, and fragmented governance. This study uses a mixed-methods comparative approach, combining quantitative data from UNICEF and the KidsRights Index with qualitative analysis of legislation, policies, and institutional mechanisms. Findings show Serbia and Montenegro perform best, North Macedonia demonstrates progress in education but limited child participation, while Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo face significant gaps
The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
Full text linkImmigration has become an increasingly contentious political and social issue in Europe over the past decade. The growing influx of asylum seekers has been driven by deteriorating security conditions, armed conflicts, and political and economic instability in various regions, alongside the comparatively higher living standards in Europe. As a global hegemon, the United States has indirectly shaped migration patterns in peripheral regions such as the Balkans. This paper examines how President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration discourse during his first term (2017–2021) coincided with an approximately 45% decrease in asylum applications from the Balkans. Drawing on official statistics and employing Critical Discourse Analysis, the study explores how US rhetoric influenced regional policy emulation. The findings underscore the transnational impact of populist discourse and call for a critical reassessment of migration governance in key transit regions
The Weaponization of Energy Resources: Fossil Fuels as Instruments of Geopolitical Leverage in the EU–Russia Context
Full text linkThis paper examines how energy functions as a strategic instrument of geopolitical coercion, focusing on Russia’s prolonged weaponization of natural gas and the European Union’s evolving response. Building on Soviet-era infrastructure, Moscow has employed price increases, supply cuts, and control of pipelines to pressure states. At the same time, the EU has countered with sanctions, diversification of suppliers, and accelerated investment in renewable energy. For more than fifty years, energy has served as leverage that blurs the boundary between economics and security, imposing heavy economic and political costs on both producers and consumers. Interdependence amplifies these vulnerabilities, allowing energy to operate as a “weapon” on both supply and demand sides. Although the EU plans to end Russian gas imports by 2027, Moscow’s continuing circumvention efforts demonstrate that energy remains a critical tool of power and national security worldwide
Economic Liberty and Legislative Barriers: A New Assessment of Opportunities for Non-EU Entrepreneurs in Europe
Full text linkThis paper introduces the IMIGRENT index, a novel framework for assessing a country’s attractiveness for immigrant entrepreneurship within the European Union. Moving beyond purely economic or integration metrics, the index evaluates six dimensions, including immigration procedures, company registration, and social services, to provide a multidimensional measure of entrepreneurial liberty. Applied to both EU and non-EU immigrants, the analysis reveals how national legislation and institutional barriers shape economic opportunities. The findings position entrepreneurship not merely as an economic activity, but as a critical pathway to exercising economic self-determination and fundamental rights. The IMIGRENT index serves as a vital policy tool for diagnosing structural constraints and aligning EU migration governance with principles of liberty, equality, and social inclusion
Artificial Intelligence and Politics: Legal Dilemmas and Risks to Democracy
Full text linkThe rapid progress of AI has raised questions about its political, ethical, and legal impact, particularly regarding institutional transparency and citizens’ privacy. This study examined the implications of AI in European politics, evaluating whether it enhances democracy or fosters algorithmic manipulations that contravene ethical and legal norms. Adopting a deductive approach, it examined narratives, scenarios, and expectations regarding the use of AI in decision-making and governance mechanisms. The aim was to offer a critical perspective on the dynamics at play, highlighting the risks, opportunities, and legal protections available. The study contributed to the academic debate on the ethical and regulatory implications of AI in governance, providing insights for future regulation and public policy