The Foreign Influence in the Western Balkans: A Comparison Case of Albania and Serbia Over the Last Decade of 2014-2024

Abstract

This study examines the multifaceted impact of key international actors such as the European Union, United States, Russia, and China on the internal political, economic, and security policies of Albania and Serbia between 2014 and 2024. Employing a qualitative case study approach, it analyzes how these small Balkan states respond to, navigate, and resist external pressures through diplomatic, economic, military, and infrastructural strategies. The analysis contrasts Albania’s proactive Western-oriented foreign policy, marked by NATO membership and EU accession reforms, with Serbia’s balancing strategy, which maintains strong ties with Russia and China while pursuing EU membership. The study identifies the strategic rationales behind these divergent alignments, particularly in relation to regional security dynamics and broader geopolitical interests. It finds that Albania has closely aligned with Western institutions, adopting EU-driven governance reforms and benefiting from integration-related support. Conversely, Serbia has adopted a multi-vector foreign policy, resisting Western sanctions on Russia post-2014 and deepening ties with China, especially in infrastructure and technological investments. At the economic level, Serbia’s dependence on Russian energy and Chinese financing contrasts with Albania’s stronger orientation toward EU markets. Normatively, Albania has aligned with EU governance standards, while Serbia's reforms have stalled due to internal nationalist pressures and external strategic balancing. The study also investigates the broader instruments of influence employed by global powers that range from soft power and economic diplomacy to defense cooperation and information campaigns as well as their effects on domestic political trajectories, regional stability, and economic development. By situating the Balkans within the context of intensifying great power competition, this research contributes to international relations theory on power, sovereignty, and small state resilience. It offers a window into how external actors shape regional integration, political reforms, and strategic choices in Southeastern Europe.