Review article

Southeast Europe at the crossroads of various interests of big powers

Jadranka Polović ; University Department of Professional Studies, Split, Croatia

Abstract

Term Southeast Europe, as a political construct created after the Cold war, includes less geographic characteristics of the region, and significantly more of its cultural, religious and especially political determinant. Specifically, the term refers to a number of countries in the area of the Balkan peninsula, passing through the comprehensive process of transition, civilizing and standardizing the criteria and geopolitical interests of the United States and the European Uni on, with a view to their integration into NATO and EU. Geopolitical and strategic importance of the region as the intersection of energy routes between Western Europe and the energy-rich areas of Central Asia and the Caspian basin, is visibly growing. The article discusses the geopolitical, geostrategic
and geo-economic aspects of the region in the context of "big game"or the strong competition of the United States, European Union and Russia for more widespread access to energy resources in the Caspian basin and Central Asia, as well as for control of their transportation through the Southeast Europe.

Keywords

Southeast Europe; the global geostrategy; energy security; NATO and EU enlargement; the rivalry of great powers; the United States; European Union; Russia

Hrčak ID:

291601

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/291601

Publication date:

31.5.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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