The composition of several journal bodies has been updated. The new Editorial Team includes Dr. Miloš Petrović as Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Ivona Ladjevac as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and MA Milan Veselica as Journal Secretary. Additionally, there have been certain changes to the Editorial Board and the Publishing Council. Minor updates were also made to the Instructions for Authors and editorial responsibilities.
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International Problems

International Problems is a peer-reviewed journal of Institute of International Politics and Economics, according to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia valued as M23 (international journal). Its first issue appeared in April 1949, which makes International Problems the oldest periodical in Serbia and in the region publishing research articles dedicated to various aspects of international relations.more details

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Latest issue: International problems Vol. 76 No. 4/2024

Content

Editorial Note
International problems, 2024 76(4):583-586
When the Power of Realpolitik Overcomes the Power of Norms – EU Enlargement at a Dead End
International problems, 2024 76(4):587-608
Abstract ▼
Drawing on the positive experience of the 1993 Copenhagen accession conditions on the post-communist democratization of countries in East Central and Baltic Europe, Ian Manners defined “Normative Power Europe” (NPE) as the EU’s ability to spread its international influence by relying on the power of its norms, rather than the political power of its member states. the author argues that, since the onset of enlargement fatigue in the mid-2000s, the relevance of the EU’s normative power has faded, and realpolitik has once again become the determining factor in its foreign policy. Without clear prospects for EU accession, numerous initiatives to resolve key stability and security issues in the Western Balkans (WB) have produced mixed or no results. the author concludes that the sudden “expansion” of the enlargement process, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to countries lagging behind the WB candidates in meeting EU norms and standards has further undermined NPE and emphasized the importance of the EU’s (weak) political power and realpolitik in relations with these countries. Such an approach is unlikely to secure regional stability, effectively promote peace and democracy, or provide a clear EU membership perspective.
Strategising Peace Through Power: Henry Kissinger’s Realpolitik and Shuttle Diplomacy in the Early 1970s Middle East
International problems, 2024 76(4):609-632
Abstract ▼
Henry Kissinger, one of the most influential and controversial diplomats of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, played a pivotal role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East through his shuttle diplomacy following the Yom Kippur War. This article explores the multidimensional and layered nature of Kissinger’s strategy, grounded in the geostrategic concepts of Saul Bernard Cohen. While Kissinger’s mission aimed to end hostilities between Israel and its Arab neighbours, it also sought to counterbalance the expanding Soviet influence in the region, a critical aspect often overlooked in the existing scholarly work. By examining the geopolitics of oil, power, and influence through the lens of the Carter Doctrine, this study illustrates how Kissinger’s realpolitik not only influenced the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations but also altered the dynamics of the Cold War, thereby reshaping the course of history.
Reforming EU Enlargement Decision-Making: Lessons from the Bulgarian and Greek Vetoes on North Macedonia
International problems, 2024 76(4):633-654
Abstract ▼
This article examines North Macedonia as a prime example of a candidate state whose efforts to join the European Union (EU) have been repeatedly hindered by vetoes from several Member States, including Greece, France, and Bulgaria. The author argues that North Macedonia’s case highlights both the necessity and the challenges associated with reforming the EU’s enlargement decision-making mechanism. From a comparative and historical perspective, this paper examines the Greek and Bulgarian vetoes in North Macedonia’s accession process within the context of prevailing narratives in the two countries’ policymaking. The author uses document and discourse analysis. The article concludes with insights into the “logic” of national vetoes, the stakes involved in their use, and the prospects for reforming the EU’s enlargement decision-making process.
Patterns of Bilateral Military Alliances Formation and Political Regimes in Central Europe, 1962–2003
International problems, 2024 76(4):655-681
Abstract ▼
This study examines the dynamics of political regimes as pivotal factors shaping bilateral military alliances (BMAs) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) from the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) to 2003. Using data from the Alliance Treaty Obligations and Provisions (ATOP) and the Polity IV databases, the research investigates statistical correlations between the formation of military alliances, their typologies, and political regime-type dynamics. Research questions include exploring the key characteristics of BMAs, the political regime nature of dyads, correlations between alliance durability and democracy levels, and the impact of regime changes on alliance phases. A sample of 88 BMAs is analysed, exploring hypotheses on relationships such as alliance duration, political regime congruity, member asymmetry, treaty provisions, and changes pre- and post-Cuban crisis. Key findings indicate that less democratic dyads tended to sustain longer alliances, while the hypothesis on political regime congruity in military alliances received partial support. The study contributes to understanding how political regime dynamics influence alliance formation and longevity in a region historically shaped by the Cold War geopolitical dynamics.
Contemplating an Asian NATO: Obstacles and Challenges to Its Formation
International problems, 2024 76(4):683-706
Abstract ▼
The paper analyses the possibility of formation of an Asian counterpart to the NATO alliance, focusing on the obstacles to and challenges involved. In the first part of the paper, the author reflects on the cooperation of certain Indo-Pacific countries (especially Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand) with NATO, including the scope and progress of their engagement to date. Next, the paper provides a brief review of early 21st-century proposals for a ‘global’ NATO, which ultimately remained unrealized. The central section examines the concept of an Asian NATO, analyzing potential member countries and exploring the obstacles to the realization of such an alliance. The author identifies three major to the creation of an Asian NATO: culturalpolitical, geo-economic, and geographic/geostrategic. Each of these obstacles is analysed and interpreted individually, under the assumption that the USA would be willing to initiate the alliance’s formation. These challenges primarily concern the potential Asian member countries themselves. The final section provides a summary of the key arguments and presents the concluding remarks.

Book review

The Future of Foreign Policy is Feminist
International problems, 2024 76(4):709-712

Conference review

The Review of the Round Table "International Relations Theory Then and Now"
International problems, 2024 76(4):713-720