So Similar, Yet So Different: Russia and Turkey in the Western Balkans – The Case of Serbia

In recent years, Russia and Turkey have been among non-Western powers that more assertive in their foreign policies the Western Balkans. Naturally, this creates need to identify key similarities differences between these two geopolitical players. By using case of Serbia, pivotal country Balkans a whose policy was largely influenced by idea hedging engaging players, one can determine powers. This paper states major difference. The first similarity is both are acting based on same permissive environment regional power vacuum, which EU’s leverage has decreased countries like Serbia feel emboldened hedge bets diversify partnerships. second although popular explanation stress powers’ ethnic religious ties with Balkans, Slavic Orthodox Islam Turkey, or even as continuation old imperial traditions, guided strategic pragmatism. difference be defined status quo it aims act spoiler perpetuating current state political dysfunctions; not player does oppose region’s membership institutions long its interests respected.