In recent years it has become commonplace in Western academic discourse to discuss the Kremlin’s influence (or “soft power”, if we are talking about extra-academic discourse) in the Western Balkans, particularly in Serbia. However, if one is to evaluate the real situation on the ground, Russia is playing second, if not third fiddle, side-lined by the US-led NATO in the military sphere, by the EU member-states (and China, as of late) in the economic sphere and by the collective West in the cultural, or even more generally, public sphere. The last point is rather surprising, considering that Serbia happens to be a somewhat perfect country as far as the promotion of the Russian culture and cultivation of a pro-Russian society are concerned. Hence, this report is going to evaluate the successes and shortcomings of Russia’s public diplomacy in Serbia, and, most important of all, suggest a few initiatives that may strengthen its effectiveness.
Russia’s Public Diplomacy: Successes, Shortcomings and Suggestions — Valdai Club
