Russia and the balkan states: Variable speeds of engagement

This chapter discusses Russia's relationship with the Balkans by looking at three issues interchangeably: the mode of influence exerted from Russia on the different states of the Balkans; the local elites' reactions to Russia's influence in the region; and the diversity of public narratives and perceptions among the Balkan peoples. In order to show the range of linkages, the chapter looks at Russia's intentions in the region as a whole, as well as its bilateral relationships with individual states, all of which have a different connection with Russia, based on divergent cultural/historical memories, political/economic relations and degrees of influence. The chapter focuses on the current state of relations with emphasis on the post-1989 environment, but also takes a long historical view of the relationships in order to show the impact of the past on the present, and the continuities or ruptures through time. It argues that the Balkans are not Russia's first international priority and never have been; yet, as a region in its "near abroad, "Russia needs the Balkans to project its global influence in a strategic, often tactical way; for their part, all Balkan countries are tied firmly to the European (EU and transatlantic) anchor, yet some states more than others choose to play the Russian card to strengthen their own authority vis-a-vis the West, and each other. This amounts to "politics of opportunism, "where the different sides choose to engage at a low cost in their respective foreign policies