Repositorium of Institute of International Politics and Economics
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China's economic influence in South Asia: a case study of Sri Lanka
Get PDFChina's economic influence in South Asia, primarily through
initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has prompted significant
analysis of its impact on the region's economies. This research specifically
examines China's expanding economic presence in South Asia, driven by
the ambitious BRI. It focuses on China's strategic partnerships with regional countries, emphasizing bilateral economic relations, trade dynamics,
investments, and associated debt implications. The study uses Sri Lanka as
a case study to analyze the intricate dynamics of China's economic involvement in South Asia. Despite concerns about trade imbalances, competition with local industries, and debt sustainability, research indicates that
debts owed to Chinese creditors are not solely tied to Chinese investments.
Sri Lanka's experience, illustrated by the leasing of the Hambantota port to
a Chinese firm, highlights the nuanced nature of these relationships. Contrary to misconceptions, this transaction did not worsen Sri Lanka's debt
burden but instead provided crucial financial resources for other economic
priorities. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the leasing of the Hambantota port has yielded promising results, presenting opportunities for economic diversification and growth in
the Sri Lankan economy. As global conditions stabilize, the enduring ef-
fects of China's economic influence in South Asia, including investment trends and debt dynamics, underscore the evolving landscape of regional
economic cooperation and development
Corruption as a barrier to international trade
Get PDFCorruption affects the economy and society as a whole in a wide range of ways. The rule of
law, democracy, and economic growth are all threatened by corruption, which can take many
different forms, including bribery, nepotism, embezzlement, extortion, kickbacks, money
laundering, fraud, and conflicts of interest. It impedes economic expansion and has an impact
on employment, investments, and corporate operations. If companies are reluctant or unable
to engage in corruption, they are restricted or forbidden from providing their goods and
services in that economy. The increasing interconnectedness of the global economy provides
cover for unscrupulous criminal networks, which facilitate corrupt activities and hinder
international trade. Many believe that globalization is the main culprit for the expansion of
corruption in international trade. Although bribery occasionally acts as a kind of lubricant for
stimulating international trade, this phenomenon is undesirable in the long run since it slows
down economic progress by generating costs and inefficiencies. Of particular concern is the
fact that the appearance of corruption in international trade can stigmatize the state, which can
be seen as problematic regionally or globally. In that case, international companies will
hesitate to invest and trade with that country because of the increased dangers and uncertainty.
The government must devote substantial financial, material, and human resources to anti-
corruption operations in order to monitor and combat corruption. However, the intricate
correlation between government benefits and investment depends on a country's political and
economic progress
The macroeconomic advantages of high-quality education
Get PDFIn today's globalized society, countries invests great efforts and significant funds in
improving the education system, aware that only an educated and professional workforce,
especially in areas such as technology and science, can ensure the success of the economy.
Developing countries can especially prosper by investing in education and training that will
create a highly skilled workforce, and in the difficult economic conditions of underdeveloped
regions, quality education can reduce social isolation and poverty, as it increases GDP (gross
domestic product) as well as individual earnings. When it is taken into account that the
increase in the level of education in poor countries contributes to the improvement of critical
thinking and orientation towards sustainable development, then such a phenomenon can have
global positive effects. Therefore, quality education is undeniably an important lever that
contributes beneficially to the macroeconomics. In order to achieve competitiveness in today's
demanding market, a competent workforce must be possessed, and the role of the state in this
process must be to provide tax incentives for training, adequate facilities for educational
purposes, but also materials and necessary technological means, which will enable students to
have better quality learning and significant academic results. In general, it can be concluded
that the more resources a country allocates to its educational infrastructure, the more
successful its economy will be as a whole. New technologies improve education, because they
enable distance learning, better communication and cooperation, and quick access to
information. However, especially in underdeveloped regions, technological progress is still
very slow, teachers are not very proactive in using modern technologies and very rarely use
them for teaching purposes. The main reason is certainly the lack of financial resources for
the modernization of educational technology, and low level of digital literacy
Bulgaria’s EU Accession: Between Ecclesiastical Concerns and the State’s Pro-Western Outlook
Get PDFThis paper analyses the socio-political position and role of the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the context of the country’s accession
to the European Union. The authors consider these aspects from the
perspective of distinctive circumstances and attitudes within the
Church, which significantly differed from those of state authorities
in the context of European integration. The limitations of the Church
in terms of socio-political influence were closely tied to existential
challenges, such as schisms and exposure to state intervention,
coupled with a low degree of religiosity. Given the extensive reach
of the Europeanization process affecting political, economic, and
social dimensions and the historical influence of Orthodox churches
on political decision-making and public opinion, the authors seek to
explore the political ramifications of isolationist tendencies, internal
divisions, and public perceptions, coupled with the ambivalence
between political pro-Westernism (pro-Europeanism) and religious
anti-Westernism. The hypothesis posits that the Church did not have
a prominent role in the course of European integration as a
consequence of the isolationist tendencies derived from its recent
history. To investigate this assumption, the authors rely on the
rational choice perspective of religious institutions. Additionally, the
authors examine the Church’s recent history and challenges, its
unusual position within the Orthodox world, and the geopolitical
circumstances that have increasingly marginalised religious
authorities in favour of state decision-makers
Energetska diplomatija Evropske unije: razvoj, stanje i perspektive
Get PDFPremda je adekvatan pristup energetskim resursima oduvek bio strateška
vrednost za države, čini se da međunarodna zainteresovanost povodom
ovog pitanja nikada nije bila veća do danas. Povezanost energetskog sektora
sa fenomenima poput borbe protiv klimatskih promena, energetske tranzicije
i sekuritizacije energetske zavisnosti i energetskih odnosa doprinela je
tretiranju pristupa energetskim resursima kao pitanja visoke politike. U
rešavanju brojnih izazova koji stoje u vezi sa energetskim pitanjima države
upošljavaju razna politička sredstva koja im stoje na raspolaganju. Evropska
unija, kao jedan od najvećih energetskih potrošača, svojim spoljnopolitičkim
energetskim nastupom u značajnoj meri oblikuje globalno energetsko tržište.
Stoga je cilj ovog rada predstavljanje ključnih komponenti evropske
energetske diplomatije. Autorka polazi od pretpostavke prema kojoj su
konkretni kontekstualni faktori uticali na evoluciju evropske energetske
diplomatije i oblikovali je u nastup asertivnijeg karaktera. Glavni
metodološki postupak jeste kritički pregled literature, te sekundarna analiza
podataka koji su u službi identifikacije ključnih determinanti evropskog
spoljnopolitičkog nastupa u domenu energetike
The interplay of democracy and trade: A comparative study of China and the EU in Eurasian relations
Get PDFThis paper investigates trade cooperation dynamics across the expansive
Eurasian region, with a specific focus on the theoretical underpinnings
of the democratic peace concept. It delves into the evolving trade and political relationships between 26 Eurasian countries and two prominent
global actors – China and the European Union, spanning the period from
2007 to the Ukrainian crisis in 2022. Through an examination of statistical correlations between trade variables – namely, export and import –
and factors such as free trade agreements, shifts in political regime types,
institutional stability of Eurasian nations, and their membership within
economic alliances, this research provides a nuanced perspective on the
evolution of interactions between EU/China and Eurasia. The findings
underscore a notable expansion in trade cooperation among the analysed
cases since 2007, despite occasional tensions and divergent geopolitical interests involving China and the EU. Statistical analyses further reveal
that the dynamics of export and import between the EU and Eurasian countries align with the stability of political regimes in Eurasia. Conversely, in
the case of China, moderately negative correlations emerge. Importantly,
trade patterns exhibit variations among individual countries, irrespective
of their political regime dynamics, institutional stability, or membership
in economic alliances – a phenomenon warranting in-depth exploration
within the confines of this paper. The paper concludes by discussing how
the findings challenge the postulates of commercial liberalism as part of
democratic peace theory in the Eurasian context. The analysis clearly
demonstrates that, with the EU and China as the two main global economic actors, these ideas need to be theoretically redefined to accurately
capture the dynamics at play in the region in future
The experience economy: providing memorable experiences to customers
Get PDFMaintaining a competitive edge for a business requires providing relevant and customized consumer
experiences. An experience is a psychological process that people can go through, and its economic
value can be measured. Customer experience (CX), is the sum of all that a company or organization
does to prioritize its customer needs and manage their journeys. It is now essential for businesses to
emotionally engage with their customers at every stage of their journey in the digital age. In addition to
being the moral thing to do for consumers, providing excellent customer experiences boosts profits for
stockholders, as well, this is known as the experience economy. The fundamental tenet of the experience
economy is that customers are looking for experiences that will stick with them and have an emotional
impact, rather than merely purchasing products or services. Consumers' hearts and minds are shaped by
experiences, which also foster loyalty. Experience purchases provide longer-lasting enjoyment than
material purchases, according to research. Because of this psychological link, the experience economy
represents a paradigm shift in consumer behaviour rather than merely a marketing strategy. It is
anticipated that the experience economy will keep expanding over the coming years, emphasizing local
experiences, technology, and sustainability more than before. Still, there are always unforeseen events
and causes that could affect the economy's direction, just like with any forecast
Unarticulated Foreign Policy as a Manifestation of Drifting Away from the EU Membership Goal
Get PDFThe author conducts an analysis of existing normative acts to shed light on
the controversial EU role in the “normalization process” and to highlight
the complex dynamics and consequences in the realm of Serbia’s EU
integrations, including through the lenses of CFSP. The article reveals how
the clash between these two priorities is instrumentalized to deflect from the
poor democratic performance in critically important areas for EU accession—
rule of law and fundamental rights. The author argues that Serbia’s current
situation should be observed in the context of the de facto abandonment of
the EU accession goal, which is also largely tied to the political distaste for
further Europeanization of the institutional and legal order. Drawing on
theoretical insights (primarily from rational choice theory) and through
empirical illustrations from the EU accession process, the author examines
the marginalization of EU accession objectives in the favour of the status quo.
The paper’s structure includes theoretical examination, empirical analysis of
Serbia’s foreign policy trajectory, analysis of normative acts, exploration of veto
areas hindering EU integration, and concluding reflections. Ultimately, the
article underscores the necessity for transparent and inclusive communication nd consultations, arguing that in the case changes, a redefined social contract
would be necessary to realign the priorities with public expectations
The Compass Dataset: A New Approach to Indexing Serbia’s Policy Trends
Get PDFIn the complex landscape of international relations, understanding
and mitigating risks is crucial for formulating effective policies. Currently, in its
initial development phase under the scientific COMPASS Project, the COMPASS
Dataset represents a comprehensive resource designed to capture and analyse
the risks associated with Serbia’s foreign, security, and economic policy towards
the European Union and China, respectively. This dataset encapsulates a broad
spectrum of potential contingencies, categorised and ranked through 33 distinct
variables. It is an invaluable tool for policymakers and researchers, offering a
granular view of the challenges and opportunities inherent in Serbia’s
interactions with these significant global players. This paper presents preliminary
insights into the COMPASS Dataset, including an analysis of its variables,
identification and resolution of initial coding errors, and the overall data
structure. Additionally, the paper explores the architecture of the underlying
database, highlighting how it supports robust data management and facilitates
comprehensive risk assessment. By offering an early exploration of the dataset’s
specifics, this paper aims to illustrate how the COMPASS Dataset, even at this
developmental stage, can inform strategic decision-making and enhance
Serbia’s policy responses in an increasingly dynamic international environment
Boundary disputes between the successor states of the SFR Yugoslavia in the Adriatic Sea
Get PDFThe dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) resulted in the transformation of the administrative republican borders into international borders through the application of the international legal principle of uti possidetis. Due to the absence of administrative borders between the Yugoslav republics in the Adriatic Sea, the principle could not be applied to maritime delimitation after the succession of the SFRY. Situation was complicated by the fact that administrative borders were not clearly defined in the hinterland of the Adriatic Sea, which is why it was not possible to apply the general legal principle according to which “the land dominates the sea”. This led to a series of boundary disputes between the successor states, which have not been resolved to this day. Clear political will and consistent application of international law will be necessary to resolve them in the future