Beyond the EU as the ‘Only Game in Town’: the Europeanisation of the Western Balkans and the role of China

Abstract

The prospect of accession of the Western Balkans into the EU has been declining, with Brussels unwilling to accept new members, and the Western Balkan region becomingindifferent towards adopting EU-imposed norms. Although this process has beenextensively studied, the academic literature has largely omitted the roles of externalactors. This article fills the gap by focusing on China and its role vis-à-vis the ongoingEuropeanisation of Serbia and Montenegro, both of which host significant Chineseinvestments and are regional frontrunners in the EU enlargement process. We beginby addressing theoretical aspects of Europeanisation and then apply this frameworkto our case studies. Our position is that the two states’ turn to the policy of alternativesis the result of failing Europeanisation, allowing them to deepen their engagement withChina - an action that has become synonymous with the policy of alternatives to EUenlargement