Balkanalysis.com

Archive for January, 2006

Macedonian Opposition Unites, at Least for Election Dates

The fractious and ever burgeoning Macedonian opposition has announced its collective desire for the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held not in summer, as significant members of the ruling coalition would like, but in either spring or fall, reported A1 Television on Friday.
Speaking for over 20 opposition parties, VMRO-DPMNE chief Nikola Gruevski presented the resolution, [...]

The Rich List 2005: Top Ten Wealthiest Dynasties in Greece and Turkey

By Ioannis Michaletos
Greece and Turkey are the two wealthiest countries in southeastern Europe. Their family fortunes are concentrated in select areas that go back for generations. In these archetypal Mediterranean nations, familial dynasties rather than individual businessmen thus ensure the transfer of power, prestige and wealth.
In 2005, the wealthiest Greeks and Turks continued to branch [...]

Promoting Romania’s Image in the EU: the Role of Diplomacy and Branding

By Paula Ganga*
There has been a great debate regarding Romania’s level of preparedness for joining the European Union in 2007. Controversy has also surrounded the issue of whether the EU can integrate such a large country, one beset by so many structural and institutional problems. But the question of whether the [...]

Military Operations Macedonia: The Official British History (Part 2)

Military Operations Macedonia (Part 2), From the Spring of 1917 to the End of the War
The Imperial War Museum and The Battery Press (1935, reprinted 1997), 365 pp. 21 appendices, 10 sketches and maps (including 1 fold-out) and 6 pictures
Reviewed by Christopher Deliso
“”if ever it should come about that a [...]

Hajj Mayhem Claims Two Macedonian Lives, Injures Three Others

Two Macedonian Muslims lost their lives in what has become an annual bout of anarchy in Mecca, Skopje’s Makfax reported today. In all, over 350 pilgrims lost their lives during the penultimate moments of a devil-stoning ritual. Makfax confirmed that the two Macedonians “died in the holy city of Mecca, [...]

Interrogation Machine: Laibach and NSK

Interrogation Machine: Laibach and NSK
by Alexei Monroe, with foreword by Slavoj Zizek
MIT Press (2005), 400 pp.
Reviewed by Mark White*
In 1987, Neue Slowenische Kunst, or NSK – an obscure art collective made up of several art and performance groups from Slovenia, a Yugoslav republic still four years from independence – was commissioned [...]

Political “Interests” Saved Kosovo’s Thugs: Interview with Detective Stu Kellock

In this exclusive interview with a Canadian police detective of long and varied experience, Stu Kellock, readers get the inside story of how UN investigators in Kosovo sought to crack down on criminals and terrorists – but were systematically stopped, because of the perceived need to safeguard the interests of the Western [...]

Stacking the Deck to Save the Administration

By Christopher Deliso
The Bush administration – and the nation – has a lot at stake in the upcoming trial of former Cheney aide I. Lewis Libby over the leaking of [...]

The Greek Manufacturing Sector: Upcoming Prospects for the Key Players

By Ioannis Michaletos
In today’s Greece, manufacturing is one of the economic sectors faced with great difficulties in coping with the new, globalized business arena. The emergence of Asian states, most notably China, along with ever-increasing domestic production costs, have cost Greek industrial manufacturers dearly, and translated into numerous job losses.
On [...]

The Boomerang Effect in Iraq: If Kurdistan, Why Not Assyria?

By Mehmet Kalyoncu
Arguably “Kurdistan’ already enjoying de facto independence; and the powerful Kurdish statelet in Iraq provides, under Massoud Barzani’s rule, an example for other long-neglected minorities in the region of Northern Mesopotamia. Could the example of the [...]

Balkanalysis.com: A Look Back on 2005 and News for the Future

As 2006 dawns, let’s take a moment to look back on the year 2005 and note some salient details about this website’s performance.

First of all, 2005 saw 129 new articles published on Balkanalysis.com- in addition to several hundred others added to our back archive on the Central and Eastern European Online Library (CEEOL), which resulted in greatly increased attention from large institutions, research libraries and other purchasers of these vital texts. Second, and equally importantly, we published works from around 10 new writers, thus providing our audience with an expanded range of opinions, insights and points of view from writers hailing from several different Balkan (and outside) states.

And, as usual, our international readership continued to be diverse yet specific. Readers continue to come from institutions including research libraries, universities, think-tanks, financial institutions, embassies and NGOs, as well as the military and other security-oriented bodies, along with a fair share of Balkan-interest laymen and diaspora folks.

An unfortunate byproduct of this growing interest was noted near the end of the year, when we successfully defended ourselves from crass plagiarism by the mass media in the court of moral authority. Another two similar case were swiftly resolved in our favor but not reported.

Finally, we also saw improved success with affiliate programs such as Google Ads, Ebay and Amazon, which provide readers with specifically tailored information and items pertaining to the Balkans and adjacent areas.

Now, what does all this tell us about the future?

First of all, we will continue providing regular analysis of major trends in the Balkans, as well as controversial exposes, exclusive interviews and coverage of events on the local level that cannot be found elsewhere. And we will continue to replenish the archive on CEEOL, where some of the content will continue to include articles not found on our website’s archive.

Second of all, we will continue to provide opportunities for new writers, something which will benefit everyone and present a more cosmpolitan viewpoint representing a wider range of voices. Prospective writers, as well as book reviewers, should read the About Us section for details.

Finally, in regards to naughty publishers who decide to bend the rules by not citing or even plagiarizing our texts when they use them, we will, as W. so eloquently said, “smoke them out of their holes”- whatever that means.

Above all we would like to thank our loyal readers for their continued support and interest. Note that we enjoy hearing from you, whether or not you have something nice to say. All feedback is helpful to us as we try to serve you better.

But don’t forget that supporting us by passing on the word about the website, patronizing our advertisers, or even donating is very much appreciated.

With best wishes for 2006,

Christopher Deliso, Director

Balkanalysis.com