MEĐUNARODNI PROBLEMI

Abstract ▼

This paper departs from the hypothesis that the Community with a Shared Future for Mankind represents a relational turn in Chinese diplomatic theory and practice. This relational turn is underpinned by its Global Development, Security, and Civilization Initiatives. The study employs relational theory from the field of international relations, alongside approaches developed within diplomatic studies. The qualitative analysis of the Chinese officials’ actions and statements was conducted using Voyant software. The findings suggest that China’s announcement of the three initiatives, followed by efforts to implement them through transformative and interconnected projects with global partners, reflects its strategic objectives, ambition to institutionalize power, and growing influence in shaping global governance. China holds the stance that, in doing so, it is sharing wisdom to improve global governance, since we all share the same planet. By providing substance to these three initiatives through collaboration with partners worldwide, China creates a new structure of relations, a system of values, rules of behavior, forms of interdependence, and a global community with a shared future. Building such a community requires balanced development, shared security, multilateralism, and intercultural dialogue.

Abstract ▼

This paper examines the relationship between ideology and security as key aspects of contemporary security systems, where ideology functions as a fundamental framework for shaping protection strategies and maintaining social order. Although at first glance the concepts of ideology and security may appear separate, their interconnection remains insufficiently studied, especially within the context of international politics and security studies. The concept of ideological security emphasizes the importance of preserving a unified ideological harmony and stability as essential means of protection against internal and external threats. In the Chinese context, this relationship is reflected through the integration of ideological security into a broader national security strategy, where ideology is used as a tool to strengthen unity, stability, and the legitimacy of authority. The practical implementation of this concept includes measures such as information control, the promotion of state values, and monitoring of social movements, aimed at safeguarding political and social order. This interconnected framework highlights the role of ideology as a means of preserving national identity and stability in a complex global environment, with particular regard to the Chinese approach to integrating ideological security into a comprehensive national security strategy. Therefore, our primary research question is: how is the concept of ideological security integrated into China’s national security strategies, and what are its implications for internal stability and international relations? The research employs qualitative content analysis, including relevant academic works, international sources, as well as the analysis of government documents, strategies, and public statements by Chinese authorities. Based on data collected from secondary sources, the analysis focuses on identifying key themes, patterns, and understanding the role of ideology in security policies.

Abstract ▼

French public regulation of religions is often portrayed as uniquely restrictive among Western democracies. This article argues for a more nuanced understanding of the French governance of religion by situating it in both international and domestic perspectives, and by contrasting national dynamics with local practices. At the national level, France indeed exhibits an increasingly restrictive orientation, particularly regarding the visibility of religious signs. Yet this trend coexists with other, more accommodating regulatory instruments, and is not exclusive to France but observable internationally, across several Western societies. At the local level in France, the picture is even more complex: numerous public initiatives continue to facilitate or support religious practice, sometimes explicitly framed as contributions to social cohesion or equality of treatment. Based on a study of legal documents and interviews with local elected officials, the article attempts to answer the following question: how can we better assess the public regulation of religions, in particular in the case of France? Departing from a focus limited to the national level and Muslim community practices, the article advocates for an analysis of the public regulation of religion as a whole, taking into account both national and local levels, as well as concepts of restriction and accommodation.

Abstract ▼

The main focus of this paper is to examine Serbia’s progress on its European path in the context of the European Union’s long-standing crises of functioning, as well as its heightened geopolitical determination since 2022. Although in recent years a general consensus has emerged within the European Union (EU) regarding the need for reform and enlargement, this process has been slow and accompanied by serious disagreements among member states. In light of this, the author hypothesizes that Serbia, despite a more favorable context for enlargement, cannot count on EU accession without halting democratic erosion and taking convincing steps toward fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria. The author notes that, despite the EU’s geopolitical awakening, there is no room for the accession of candidates undergoing democratic backsliding, as this would represent an additional burden for the structure and functioning of European institutions and policies, which themselves are periodically exposed to crises and challenges. In addition, the author observes the growing importance of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, which poses an additional challenge for Serbia, unlike other membership candidates. The paper approaches this issue within the theoretical and conceptual framework of the EU’s multi-crisis functioning, supported by an analysis of the content of EU reports and documents. The author notes that the current crisis in Serbia demonstrates that the country is experiencing a new and significant delay in its prospects for achieving EU membership. It is therefore difficult to expect that, without a more radical change in the current state of governance, democratization, and the rule of law, Serbia will be able to align with the dynamics of EU enlargement within this decade.