Geopolitical Relevance of the Balkan Wars

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The chapter delves into the lasting impact of the First and Second Balkan Wars on present-day geopolitics, highlighting the concept of Balkanization and its relevance in different regions. It explores the rise of nationalist groups in Balkan countries using historical narratives for political gain, emphasizing the potential for unforeseen events to trigger conflicts akin to the past. The discussion also examines the future of Bulgarian nationalism amidst challenges like demographic decline, migration, and low birth rates, while analyzing the geopolitical relationships of Eastern European countries with Russia.

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You could try playing out the four-dimensional chess game of how the global order will shift in the next 10-15 years for yourself, or you could hire Velina Tchakarova. Founder of the consultancy FACE, Velina is a geopolitical strategist guiding businesses and organizations to anticipate the outcomes of global conflicts, shifting alliances, and bleeding edge technologies on the world stage.

In a globe-trotting conversation, Tyler and Velina start in the Balkans and then head to Russia, China, North Korea, and finally circle back to Putin’s interest in the Baltics. She gives her take on whether the Balkan Wars still matter today, the future of Bulgarian nationalism, what predicts which Eastern European countries will remain closer to Russia, why China will not attack Taiwan, Putin’s next move after Ukraine, where a nuclear weapon is most likely to be used next, how she sources intel, her unique approach to scenario-planning, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded May 20th, 2024.

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