Wealth destruction, a universal feature of social revolutions Branko Milanovic, a prominent inequality scholar and former lead economist at the World Bank, recently posted on X: “Every socialist
Who’s Afraid of Tolstoy? On Propaganda, Memory, and Minority Rights
Ashkelon: A city of diversity in a geopolitical crossroad Each time I visit Ashkelon in Israel, I am struck by its remarkable diversity. Few places can match its rich cultural and ethnic mix: East
From Hemlines to Heels: Can Fashion Trends Predict Economic Cycles?
There are many indicators of economic activity and the overall state of the economy. The best known is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—even if this indicator is far from uncontroversial, as I have a
From Confrontation to Engagement: The strategic logic of US rapprochement with Russia
Introduction: A tectonic shift or strategic realignment? The US re-engagement with Russia under the Trump administration came as a shock to many, particularly to its European allies. For decades (w
Is Serbia’s student protest movement at an impasse?
Originally published at LINKS Two weeks have passed since I published my analysis of Serbia’s student protests. While the situation remains fluid and fast-developing, it has not changed
Beyond Protest: Can Serbia’s Student Movement Spark a Political Breakthrough?
Foreword: A Movement at an Impasse? Two weeks have passed since I originally published my analysis of Serbia’s student protests (in English at LINKS and in Serbian at Peščanik), and while the s
The Mystery of Serbian GDP
(Originally published in Serbian at Peščanik) In the current politically and emotionally charged situation in Serbia, even seemingly technical issues, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), have b
American sanctions against NIS: What do they mean for Serbia?
As the United States announced new sanctions targeting the Russian oil and gas sector, including its Serbian subsidiary NIS (Naftna industrija Srbije), debates about mitigating potential damage to
Serbia in 2024: A Reflection of Global Capitalist Contradictions
First published at LINKS Introduction There are countries that shape global politics and those that are shaped by it. Serbia belongs to the latter. As a small nation on the receiving end of global
Serbia as super-periphery: Growth without quality and transformation
Democratic backsliding and growth in Serbia In a previous article, I critiqued this year’s Nobel Prize for its institutional theory on development, highlighting Serbia as a case where economic gr