The Balkan Dilemma: The contradiction between two aspects: the economic interests with China and the accession to the European Union
Author
Musilová, Viktoria
Term
4. term
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-05-30
Abstract
This thesis examines the tension facing the Western Balkan states as they pursue European Union accession while deepening economic cooperation with China. Drawing on norm diffusion and rational choice theory, it explores how the EU’s protracted enlargement process and ongoing reform conditionality create space for expanded Chinese engagement, especially through bilateral loans, investments, and infrastructure projects linked to the Belt and Road Initiative and the 17+1 framework. The analysis focuses on three areas: the current trajectory of EU accession, mask and vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19, and large-scale infrastructure financed by Chinese banks. The excerpt indicates that the pandemic amplified perceptions of EU inaction, opening avenues for Chinese soft power via medical aid and vaccines, even as the EU remains the region’s largest economic partner and has launched substantial investment and recovery packages to support convergence. The study therefore highlights a “Balkan dilemma”: governments aspire to EU membership and its norms, yet pragmatically seek Chinese funding and faster delivery to meet short-term development needs. While the excerpt does not present final conclusions, it suggests that how states balance these paths will shape reform incentives, dependencies, and the region’s future alignment with the EU.
Specialet undersøger det spændingsfelt, som Vestbalkans lande befinder sig i mellem på den ene side at stræbe efter optagelse i EU og på den anden side at udnytte økonomiske muligheder i samarbejdet med Kina. Med udgangspunkt i normspredningsteori og rationel valgteori belyser specialet, hvordan EU’s langsomme udvidelsesproces og fortsatte krav om reformer skaber plads til øget kinesisk tilstedeværelse, især via bilaterale lån, investeringer og infrastrukturprojekter knyttet til Belt and Road og 17+1. Analysen fokuserer på tre områder: den aktuelle status for EU-tilnærmelsen, maskes- og vaccinediplomati under COVID-19 samt store infrastrukturprojekter finansieret af kinesiske banker. Uddraget peger på, at pandemien forstærkede opfattelsen af EU’s tøven, hvilket åbnede for kinesisk soft power gennem levering af udstyr og vacciner, mens EU samtidig forbliver regionens største handelspartner og har iværksat betydelige investerings- og genopretningspakker for at fremme konvergens. Specialet fremhæver dermed en “Balkan-dilemma”-logik: Landene ønsker EU-medlemskab og de tilhørende normer, men søger pragmatisk kinesisk finansiering og hurtige resultater for at imødekomme kortsigtede udviklingsbehov. Uddraget rummer ikke endelige konklusioner, men indikerer, at balancen mellem disse spor får betydning for reformincitamenter, afhængigheder og regionens fremtidige tilknytning til EU.
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