"The Balkan Dialogue" is an annual program of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund which has established itself as a platform for comprehensive discussions, strengthening cultural and historical ties between representatives of youth of Russia and the Balkan countries as well as for improving the prospects for cooperation.
"The Balkan Dialogue 2024" will be held from May 13 to 17 (May 14–16 are working days of the program) in person in Belgrade, the Republic of Srpska.
The scientific director of the Balkan Dialogue 2024 will be Ekaterina Entina, the Doctor of Political Science, the Professor at the Higher School of Economics, the Head of the Department of Black Sea-Mediterranean Studies at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
This year the program will include a discussion of the civilizational, spiritual, historical multidimensionality of the Balkan space which allows the countries of the region to implement a multilateral foreign policy and cooperate in the economy.
The delegates will discuss how to build interethnic dialogue and develop their own approaches to it based on the material and diplomatic heritage provided by the history of the Balkan Region.
The working languages of the event will be Russian, Serbian, English.
Russian and foreign citizens aged 20 to 35 years are invited to participate:
- Young specialists in the field of international relations, politics, economics, history of the Balkan Region.
- Activists of public organizations involved in international activities and dealing with issues of public diplomacy.
- Representatives of local and regional self-government bodies and government agencies.
- Students, graduate students and teachers of specialized faculties.
- Journalists specializing in Balkan issues.
The list of the participants is formed on the basis of the competition.
For participation in the competitive selection you must do the following before March 17, 2024 23:59 (Moscow time):
- register in your personal account on the English version of the Fund’s website. If you do not have an account, you must first register, and then on the right in the "My projects" tab select the competition "The Balkan Dialogue 2024".
- an application must be accompanied by an essay in Russian or English on one of the topics listed below (volume is no more than 10,000 characters with spaces).
Essay topics:
1. The Balkans in interregional interaction: China, Africa, Latin America, Russia – historical contexts, modern realities, prospects.
2. The influence of Yugoslavia’s experience in the Non-Aligned Movement on the foreign policy of modern Serbia.
3. The problem of information wars through the prism of the Balkan Region.
4. Challenges and ways to preserve national identity in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula.
Essay formatting requirements:
- To be written in Russian or English.
- Font Times New Roman, size 14, spacing 1.15.
- Sources (including foreign ones) must be indicated after the text of the work in the "Bibliography" section.
- Align the text in width, in the upper left corner - the author’s full name, place of work/study in the following format:
Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov
MGIMO University
3rd year, the bachelor's degree
The terms of participation:
The organizers provide:
- Accommodation in double rooms for the non-resident and foreign participants.
- Meals and travel around Belgrade as part of the program.
The participants pay themselves:
- Travel from your city of residence to the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade/venue of the event in Belgrade and back.
- Visa and consular fees (if necessary).
Attention: The Fund will cover travel expenses from the place of residence to the event venue and back for the authors of the three best essays.
The results of the competition will be announced on April 1. All the candidates will be informed about the results by email.
If you have any questions, please contact balkan.dialogue@mail.ru.
Source: the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund
