Finding Answers Together to the New Normal

Continuing uncertainty and unpredictability is no longer a form of crisis; unpredictability has become “new normal” in international relations. Actors no longer feel committed to the rules and institutions of the post-Cold War period. This new balance can be observed in the phenomena and effects of first artificial intelligences as well as acceleration and greater automation of labor and the global economy overall. Powerful, growing economies of the Middle and the Far East mark the 21st Century as the ascending “Asian Century.”

In this new world, Europe and transatlantic relations are confronted with increasing pressure of populism that, along with nationalism, strikes at the foundations of the European project and relations formed after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In this new order, institutions must be re-designed in order to better understand and overcome challenges that threaten to collapse them.

The Balkans is at a turning point in 2018 – the new EU Enlargement Strategy has created a sense of urgency among regional leaders, primarily reflected in need to find solutions for old disputes. This year, from October 17 to 19, the Belgrade Security Forum will deal with the question – where are we in this state of “new normal”? Where do we go? How do we make progress for everyone in an unpredictable future?

This year’s Forum will traditionally start with the Academic Event, titled “How conflict sensitive is the EU crisis response”, which will gather young researchers.