Comparative analysis of Turkish and Russian policies towards the Western Balkans: The case of Serbia (2000-2014)

The Balkan Peninsula has been an important point of connection between Europe and Asia for centuries, both by land and sea. The characteristic of this area is the centuries-old fragmentation in geographical as well as in the cultural, ideological, and political sense. Another factor that characterizes the area of the Balkans is the fact that many empires aimed to conquer this strategically important realm. What is interesting to observe in the light of current international affairs, is the engagement of great powers such as Russia and Turkey, particularly in the Western Balkan region. The reasons of their interests are multiple and range from traditional historical relationships to current political and economic issues. Due to its geographically strategic position, as a country that connects Eastern and Western Europe and historically significant ties, Serbia has become the stage where both Russia and Turkey have managed to secure their roles as big powers. Therefore, this is an interesting area for research, with the aim of laying the foundations for understanding contemporary political relations in this region. The main aim of this research is to analyse and compare Turkish and Russian foreign policy in the Western Balkans. We aim to create a complete picture of today's influence Russia and Turkey have in the Western Balkans, with a particular emphasize on Serbia and to analyse the existing relationships and the interests behind them.