Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Center for Geostrategic Studies: Europe in New Geopolitical Conditions, Opportunities for Russia and Serbia

The Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Center for Geostrategic Studies (Belgrade, Serbia) organized a scientific seminar in Moscow on October 17 titled “Europe in New Geopolitical Conditions: Opportunities for Russia and Serbia.”

The event brought together leading experts, political scientists, and historians from Russia, Serbia, and other European countries to analyze current challenges and transformations in relations between Russia and Europe.

The central theme of the discussion was the concept of “collective Weimarization” of Europe, referring to the degradation of democratic institutions and governance systems within the EU amid rising nationalism and extremism. Participants examined whether strategic repositioning and pragmatic geopolitical orientation could offer an alternative to these degenerative processes and open new avenues for cooperation with Russia.

Alexey Gromyko, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Director of the Institute of Europe, opened the seminar by presenting the program and emphasizing that the event was organized to address highly important and timely issues. He noted that the current crisis in Europe is a major focus of many academic and social studies, rooted in the conflict in Ukraine. However, he stressed that the complexity of this phenomenon is not limited to Russia–Ukraine relations, but represents a multilayered problem affecting the foundations of Russia’s relations with the United States, NATO, and the European Union — highlighting the intricacies of crisis resolution.

The Director of the Institute of Europe also stated that a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Mr. Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio is scheduled for next week, and that a new summit involving Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Budapest has been preliminarily agreed. “All of this indicates that we are entering a period of very interesting developments,” Gromyko remarked.

He concluded by emphasizing that, in analyzing the crisis in Russia–West relations, it is particularly important to highlight the event of 1999 as a turning point that fundamentally shaped the trajectory and dynamics of these relations: “That very event — the bombing of Yugoslavia — can be considered a foundational cause of the processes that, over the past three decades, have led to a comprehensive crisis in Russia’s relations with the West,” Gromyko noted.

Photo: Dragana Trifković, Alexey Gromyko, and Roman Lunkin

Dragana Trifković, General Director of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, emphasized in her welcome address that cooperation with the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences — a highly authoritative scientific institution of global standing — is a great honor and privilege. She expressed gratitude to the Director of the Institute, Mr. Alexey Gromyko, for his openness to collaboration and highlighted that his deep understanding of both historical and contemporary political processes, participation in numerous international platforms, and publications in academic journals are of great importance for shaping new models of international cooperation.

Trifković also thanked Deputy Director Mr. Roman Lunkin, as well as Ms. Galina Povazhnaya, Head of the Department for International Cooperation at the Institute of Europe, for their contribution to the realization of the joint scientific seminar, which serves as a starting point for future collaboration.

Vladimir Schweitzer, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Head of the Department for Social and Political Research at the Institute of Europe, noted that the complexity of the current situation and the redefinition of relations between East and West, as well as internal changes within states, require pragmatic approaches — and that these changes essentially lead toward positive outcomes. “The department I lead studies political parties and political processes in Europe. In recent years, changes in European countries have become evident. However, even when the situation seems hopeless, some consensus is always found around fundamental elements,” Schweitzer remarked.

He concluded that the format of dialogue with experts from European countries is extremely important for mutual understanding. He also emphasized that the Balkans are a particularly significant region, historically unique, and that it is of great importance to find constructive solutions through dialogue to prevent the escalation of crises.

Photo: Ekaterina Timoshenkova, Vladimir Schweitzer, Dragana Trifković, and Roman Lunkin

Roman Lunkin, Doctor of Political Sciences, Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Head of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the Institute, emphasized that the topic of the scientific seminar is quite broad. It encompasses not only Russia–Europe relations, with Serbia playing a particularly important role, but also touches on wider geopolitical dynamics due to the complexity of interwoven relationships. The seminar also addressed contemporary understandings of value systems, ideological differences, and human rights protection — with special focus on the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

He noted that the historical and political experience of the Balkans and Serbia is highly relevant for identifying analogies and examples that can help in understanding the root causes of current problems and in finding solutions. This underscores the need to continue dialogue and deepen cooperation between the Institute of Europe RAS and the Center for Geostrategic Studies.

Following the opening remarks, Director of the Institute of Europe RAS Alexey Gromyko and Director of the Center for Geostrategic Studies Dragana Trifković signed the “Agreement on Scientific Cooperation and Joint Activities between the Federal State Scientific Institution Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Center for Geostrategic Studies from Serbia.” After the ceremonial signing, the seminar continued with scientific presentations by the participants.

Photo: Signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Institute of Europe RAS and the Center for Geostrategic Studies

Dragana Trifković, General Director of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, spoke on the topic “Europe and Geopolitical Shifts: Strategic Repositioning as an Alternative to Processes of Degradation.” In her presentation, she outlined the following theses:

“Europe can become a relevant and stable part of the new world order only if it strengthens its strategic autonomy and builds the capacity to maintain balance in relations with all major powers. A sound geopolitical orientation should be based on pragmatism, equilibrium, and a realistic understanding of the interests of European nations — not on ideological or bloc divisions. It is especially important for Europe to develop internal stability through decentralization and regionalization — in order to bring political responsibility closer to citizens, reduce external pressures, and prevent internal conflicts that threaten to lead to ‘collective Weimarization.’ The future of European security depends on the ability to establish genuine dialogue between the United States, Russia, and China — based on mutual respect, compromise, and recognition of the legitimate interests of all parties,” Trifković emphasized.

Later in the seminar, she presented her book in Russian titled “Crimea and Donbass — That Is Russia. The Whole World Is Russia… Except Kosovo. Kosovo — That Is Serbia” (https://disk.yandex.ru/i/nf1diAUecc8RVQ). The book is a collection of original essays, analyses, and interviews addressing the relations of Russia and Serbia with the West, the Balkans, Kosovo, and the Ukrainian crisis. It provides a detailed analysis of the conflicts in Yugoslavia and Ukraine, highlighting similarities in their causes, emergence, and development, as well as the role of external actors in their escalation.

The book demonstrates that behind the rhetoric of democracy and human rights, representatives of the collective West often conceal ambitions to control strategic regions and resources. It explores the role of Western media in shaping a one-sided worldview and justifying military interventions, and analyzes the politics of double standards and mechanisms of external interference aimed at fueling conflicts.

Photo: Dragana Trifković

Elena Alekseenkova, PhD candidate in Political Science, Senior Research Fellow, and Head of the Center for Italian Studies at the Institute of Europe RAS, spoke on the topic “Europe and Russia: Socio-Cultural Aspects of Confrontation.” Alekseenkova drew attention to the fact that in 2018, Russia adopted a national policy strategy, followed in 2024 by the Law on the Foundations of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Historical Enlightenment, in which Russia was, for the first time, defined as a “civilizational state.”

“This concept continued to develop within conservative circles, and the rhetoric of a ‘clash of civilizations,’ as defined by Huntington, is frequently used by politicians. The discourse on traditional values, positioned in opposition to Western liberal values, has become the foundation of contemporary Russian conservatism — although interpretations of what constitutes traditional values vary,” Alekseenkova noted.

In her analysis, she built on the observation that many in Europe advocate for the protection of traditional values (for example, Italy), yet reflect differently on the foreign policy level — where Russia is often seen as a threat rather than a partner. In this context, the projection of a civilizational conflict may pose an obstacle to dialogue not only under current circumstances but also in the future, Alekseenkova concluded.

Photo: Elena Alekseenkova, Ekaterina Timoshenkova, Vladimir Schweitzer

Nikolai Mezhevich, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Chief Research Fellow and Head of the Center for Belarusian Studies at the Institute of Europe RAS, spoke on the topic “On the Historical Legacy of the SFRY and the Use of That Experience in Contemporary Russia.” He emphasized that Yugoslavia’s position after World War II was shaped by favorable geopolitical conditions that allowed for the emergence of a “third force,” meaning an independent actor. He also noted that the establishment of political unity within Yugoslavia, alongside significant powers granted to the republics, was made possible due to the strong authority of Tito.

Mezhevich pointed out that the federal experience of Yugoslavia and the USSR developed along similar lines and ended in roughly the same way. However, in economic terms, the Yugoslav model of socialist self-management differed positively. He concluded that the Yugoslav economic model should be reconsidered in light of reforms in the Russian economy and state enterprises.

Photo: Nikolai Mezhevich and Sergey Roginko

Ruslan Pankratov, Research Fellow at the Institute of CIS Countries, Head of the Department for Baltic States, and Associate of the Center for Geostrategic Studies (Latvia), spoke on the topic “From Dialogue to Confrontation: Where Does Diplomacy End and the Use of Force Begin?” In his presentation, he outlined the following theses:

“Under current conditions, the Baltic states do not possess the full political capacity to implement a multi-vector strategy, but they do have opportunities to gradually expand autonomy through cultural and scientific diplomacy, as well as through institutional reforms. This process would require reducing ideological polarization, strengthening academic independence, and forming a new model of regional leadership — one that could function within the Baltic space as a mediator rather than as a frontline of geopolitical conflict.”

Photo: Roman Lunkin and Ruslan Pankratov

Yevgeny Ryabinin, PhD in Political Science, Professor at Mariupol State University “A.I. Kuindzhi,” Head of the Russian-Balkan Economic Club and Associate of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, spoke on the topic “Serbia’s Geopolitical Influence in the Balkan Region in the Context of the Transformation of the International Relations System.” Ryabinin emphasized that the ongoing transformation of international relations presents new opportunities for Serbia, which was historically weakened during the formation of Tito’s Yugoslavia. He noted that during the breakup of Yugoslavia, genocide was committed against the Serbian people in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo and Metohija — a process influenced by Western intervention.

Ryabinin argued that Serbia should refrain from participating in anti-Russian agendas and Western schemes for supplying weapons to Ukraine. Furthermore, Serbia should offer full support to Republika Srpska in resisting efforts toward unitarization and the revocation of competencies defined by the Dayton Agreement. He concluded that Serbia’s focus should be on protecting Kosovo and Metohija, facilitating the return of displaced Serbs to the region, and restoring the resolution of the Kosovo issue to the framework of the United Nations.

Sonja Van den Ende, independent geopolitical analyst (Netherlands), spoke on the topic “How to Overcome the Radicalization of Europe: Is It Already Too Late or Is There Still a Chance?” She presented the following theses:

“In national-political discourses of recent decades, one can observe critical positions pointing to the erosion of traditional European values and growing skepticism toward the democratic institutions of the European Union. These claims require systematic examination — particularly regarding mechanisms of external influence, the role of media and civil society, and institutional weaknesses that may either facilitate or hinder the organization of political change. From an analytical perspective, it is essential to approach these issues without ideological bias, using critical empiricism to distinguish legitimate innovations in governance from those solutions that could potentially undermine democratic standards and fundamental freedoms,” Van den Ende emphasized.

Photo: Scientific Seminar of the Institute of Europe RAS and the Center for Geostrategic Studies

Arnaud Develey, international law expert from France and associate of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, spoke on the topic “Continental Exorcism: The Essence of the EU’s Post-National Project Contradicts the Aspiration to Build an Authentic and Representative Pan-European Home.” He argued that “The European Union, by its very concept, is a post-national project, which opens the possibility for rapprochement through cultural and academic events, in cooperation with Europe’s essential identities. Brussels speaks of transforming member states into ‘Euro-regions.’ In this way, paradoxically, an instrument of decentralization is being created. It would be interesting to develop regular meetings, similar to the initiative launched by Minister Lavrov in 2024 — a summit of nations, not states, but nations — held in Moscow, which over time could give rise to new elites that the European Union desperately lacks,” Develey concluded.

Alexander Semchenko, Doctor of Political Sciences from Ukraine and consultant at the Nikolai Danilevsky Scientific-Educational Center, spoke on the topic “The Imperialist Policy of European Elites and the Enslaved Peoples of Europe.” He emphasized that the war against Russia, aimed at eliminating it as a geopolitical power, has been ongoing for a long time and that numerous examples of this struggle can be cited. “Today’s Ukrainian conflict arose from the artificial creation of a Ukrainian identity, which had been cultivated for years and ultimately led to a fratricidal war. On the other hand, Europe itself consists of many peoples with rich histories and cultures, many of whom have lost their identities. For example, we can look at the peoples living in the United Kingdom, France, or Germany (such as the Sorbs). Unlike in Europe, all peoples living in Russia have preserved their identities,” Semchenko emphasized.

Photo: Alexander Semchenko

Roman Lunkin, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe RAS, spoke on the topic “Neoliberal Ideology and the Reconsideration of European Populism.” He emphasized that we are living in a very interesting era in which many concepts defined in the late 19th and 20th centuries are being reinterpreted.

“One such concept is civilization, which different powers perceive in different ways — as well as the notion of national sovereignty in today’s world. In this context, it is unclear whether Europe’s current behavior is driven by the Euro-Atlantic agenda or can be interpreted as a pursuit of strategic autonomy,” Lunkin noted.

He also pointed out that the concept of freedom was mentioned frequently during the seminar, raising questions about its interpretation from the standpoint of liberalism — an ideology that has undergone many transformations across different epochs. “It is evident that contemporary liberalism represents a completely distorted understanding of the ideology, unlike classical liberalism, where human rights and national rights are understood in a distinctly non-liberal framework,” the Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe RAS remarked.

Photo: Roman Lunkin

Ekaterina Timoshenkova, PhD in History and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Party and Political Studies of the Institute of Europe RAS, spoke on the topic “Values and Anti-Values of the Collective West.” In her presentation, she provided specific examples of disagreements between Russian and German experts in assessing the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She noted that these differences stem from the perception among German politicians that contemporary Russia does not behave in accordance with the rules defined by Europe.

Furthermore, in the context of differing understandings of values, Timoshenkova cited the reflections of a professor from Poland who stated that thanks to the socialist system and Catholicism, Poles have preserved their spiritual depth.

Continuing her presentation, Timoshenkova explained how modern Germany interprets the values it promotes, how it views the international situation, and what its new ideological framework is — based on the book by Herfried Münkler, former advisor to Angela Merkel.

Photo: Ekaterina Timoshenkova

The organizers and participants of the scientific seminar jointly hosted by the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Center for Geostrategic Studies gave a positive assessment of the event, summarizing its outcomes.

Galina Povazhnaya, Head of the Department for International Cooperation at the Institute of Europe RAS, expressed her gratitude to all participants during the closing session and emphasized that the signing of the scientific cooperation agreement is of strategic importance. She called for continued dialogue through the organization of future events, noting that all scientific analyses presented were constructive, thoughtful, and of high quality.

Dragana Trifković, Director of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, also extended her thanks to the leadership of the Institute of Europe RAS for their trust and highlighted that plans for further cooperation — which holds great promise — will be defined in the coming period.

Photo: Dragana Trifković, Galina Povazhnaya, and Roman Lunkin

Report compiled by: Center for Geostrategic Studies

October 20, 2025