How to Cut the Gordian Knot in the Western Balkans? Understanding the Democracy, Development, and Stability Nexus

Nikolaos Tzifakis gave a guest lecture on 18 December 2023, in the Association of Foreign Affairs of Lund.

Title: “How to Cut the Gordian Knot in the Western Balkans? Understanding the Democracy, Development, and Stability Nexus”

Lecture description: The EU is currently discussing the reinvigoration of its enlargement policy and its preparation to accept new members. Meanwhile, the Western Balkan region features democratic backsliding and the erosion of the rule of law. In addition, nationalism continues to undermine peacebuilding efforts and structural development problems such as weak competitiveness and severe environmental degradation must be addressed. The lecture explained the nexus of these problems and discussed how the region might be helped to advance vigorously toward its EU accession.