Disinformation continues to be one of the greatest challenges the Western democracies currently face, testing their integrity, cohesion and resilience. With social networks representing an important medium when it comes to their spreading, it is important to understand how exactly disinformation manifests itself  when it comes to the way it circulates on the network and influences its users.

This paper explores the “East vs. West” debate in North Macedonia and challenges the often shared notion that the majority of North Macedonians are united in favoring the country's Euro-Atlantic integration. By analyzing survey data, the study shows that ethnic Macedonians are significantly split on the geopolitical direction their country should take, and that partisanship is an important factor in this divide. This polarization is at least in part attributable to cueing from party elites, despite the claim by all major parties that they are pro-Western.

This new addition to the PSSI Perspectives goes over the 5G technology supplier selection in Germany. Unlike many other European countries, Germany has not yet decided whether it would allow Chinese companies to build the 5G networks. It is a pressing issue dividing the government coalition that should be resolved this month of November. This Perspective presents the current regulation, key actors and their standing on the issue.

The study analyses how the ruling party in Serbia has used the country’s increasing economic cooperation with non-Western powers to promote its own ‘winning’ narrative. The author brings new insights into how the Serbian leadership has used the topic of economic renaissance in relation to a narrative depicting economic salvation by foreign friends coming to the rescue to further its political power. It is shown that this role, initially played by the United Arab Emirates, was assumed by China in the second part of the 2010s.

The Prague Security Studies Institute continues its PSSI Perspectives series of regular short memos on select security-related topics. 

The Prague Security Studies Institute continues its PSSI Perspectives, regular short memos on select security-related topics. 

Dr. Jana Robinson’s article “Arctic Space Challenge for NATO Emerging from China’s Economic and Financial Assertiveness” was published in the 30th edition of the Journal of the Joint Air Power Competence Centre. 

The paper assesses the impact of COVID-19 on different external influences, which have already been steadily increasing in recent years, in the six Western Balkan countries. It offers insights into different forms and levels of engagement by Russia, China, Turkey as well as the US and the EU, establishing a better understanding of their agendas and strategies, and also providing data for future research on and analyses of this topic.

The paper identifies and analyses opportunities and challenges, which the EU is facing in the region as it tries to regain its leverage there. It starts from the oft-repeated premise that of all foreign actors, only the EU has the capacity to gradually stabilize and normalize the Balkans, examines the roots of the acute misunderstanding and miscommunication between EU and Balkan officials and outlines possible recommendations that could help the EU in tackling Balkan challenges.

The Prague Security Studies Institute introduces PSSI Perspectives. These will be regular short memos on select security-related topics, including breaking developments affecting Czech and regional security, Chinese and Russian business transactions or projects of strategic and/or security concern, and the attraction of U.S. and European capital and investments by corporate “bad actors” of adversary states.