The Struggle Against Authoritarian Influence in the Western Balkans: Montenegro as a Test Case
Authoritarian and hybrid regimes—notably Russia, China, and Serbia—are increasingly using smaller countries like Montenegro as testing grounds for authoritarian influence operations that undermine democratic institutions and norms. Due to Montenegro’s small size, these external powers can exert outsized political influence with minimal investment. For example, Russia and China have manipulated political, economic, media, and cultural institutions in the country, exerting anti-democratic pressure on its parliamentary elections with Serbia acting as an influence amplifier. Montenegro serves as a compelling test case to illustrate the evolving tools and techniques of authoritarian influence in the Western Balkans and beyond.
If marred by state capture and corruption, government institutions often lack the will and capacity to confront authoritarian influence in any meaningful way. Moreover, despite independent journalists and civil society organizations’ tireless efforts to uncover and expose corrupting authoritarian influence in Montenegro and elsewhere, they face numerous challenges. To counteract these rapidly evolving threats, civil society organizations, in partnership with their international partners, must develop strategies rooted in innovation, collaboration, and sustainability.
The International Forum for Democratic Studies released a new report in July, “The Struggle Against Authoritarian Influence in the Western Balkans: Montenegro as a Test Case” by Vanja Ćalović Marković (MANS) about tools of authoritarian influence on democratic institutions and innovative responses.
Please join the author, Vanja Ćalović Marković (MANS), Christopher Walker, Tanja Dramac Jiries, and Kevin Sheives (National Endowment for Democracy), as well as Martin Hála (Sinopsis) and Martin Vladimirov (Center for the Study of Democracy) to discuss this new report and its implications for civil society.
The National Endowment for Democracy is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Each year, NED makes more than 2,000 grants to support the projects of non-governmental groups abroad who are working for democratic goals in more than 100 countries. Learn more at https://www.ned.org/
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