Sarajevo Calling

Your favorite podcast returns from a months-long hiatus to examine the breakdown in Bulgarian-Macedonian relations. We speak to scholar Dimitar Bechev for his perspective on the latest setback for North Macedonia and its EU aspirations. Then, in her first field-report, journalist Una Hajdari reports from Skopje on the origins of Bulgaria's obsession with the identity of North Macedonia's citizens and their language. It's a Christmas miracle -- Sarajevo Calling is back! Sarajevo Calling is a...

This week on Sarajevo Calling, the guys chat with Montenegrin political analysts Ljubomir Filipović about the country’s historic elections. What are the prospects for a heterodox coalition government between right wing nationalists and left wing reformers? What has been the role of outside actors like Serbia and Russia in the apparent defeat of the long ruling DPS? And what are the prospects for continued instability in Montenegro in the months to come? All this and a thing about unicorns on...

The boys return from a brief hiatus to discuss the resurgence of coronavirus in the Western Balkans, and how local governments have pressed on with ill-advised elections of (in Serbia’s case, at least) dubious democratic legitimacy. Also, the contested legacy of Croatia’s “Operation Storm”; whose experiences are commemorated 25 years later and why? All this and a nice little flatbread, warm right out of the oven, on Episode 29 of Sarajevo Calling. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about...

It's Episode 28 of Sarajevo Calling, wherein Aleksandar and Jasmin discuss Balkan cuisine. Sogan dolma, klepe, ajvar, njeguški pršut, tulumbe, baklava; it's our most sensual and syrupiest episode yet. It'll make you light up a cigarette and maybe make you feel a bit uncomfortable. Maybe you have a nap afterwards, just to let things settle. That seems like a good idea. Anyway, enjoy! Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary...

This week the boys discuss the apparent landmark elections deal in the city of Mostar, the bizarre campaign trail antics of Serbia's Deputy PM, the (re)arrest of war criminal Fikret Abdić, and - at long last! - the return of TANK TALK. All this and our views on donkeys, nature's most noble ungulate on this week's Sarajevo Calling. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist...

Slovenia's illiberal PM is posting bizarre conspiracy theories and attacking journalists on Twitter, while Bosnia's entity governments are embroiled in raspberry and tent-related corruption scandals. It's been a weird few weeks in Balkan politics, and Sarajevo Calling is back to make (try to) sense of it all. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist Aleksandar Brezar and...

Aleksandar and Jasmin discuss: Sarajevo - the place, the myth, the spite, and the spirit. An intimate, personal dialogue on what Sarajevo means to the guys, its "parallel universes", and the city as "philosophical absolute". Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist Aleksandar Brezar and political scientist Jasmin Mujanović, and with graphics provided by Boris Stapić,...

The boys sit down and chat with the renowned scholar Florian Bieber of the University of Graz about the origins of his academic career studying the Western Balkans, the rise of authoritarianism and illiberalism in the region, and the future of European enlargement. And we ask him to go on the record with all the tough questions: is Luxembourg a Balkan state and what exactly is his relation to Justin?! All this, and a warm zeljanik, on this week's episode of Sarajevo Calling. Sarajevo...

The boys discuss the ongoing political drama in Kosovo between (Acting) Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Hashim Thaçi, and their respective supporters. Why did Kurti's government fall and what has been the role of the international community in these events, in particular as concerns the U.S.' Amb. Richard Grenell? Most excitingly, hear clips from Albin Kurti's recent press conference for foreign media - including his views on Thaçi, Grenell, and the famed "land swap". All this and...

The boys discuss some of their favorite narrative and scholarly literature about the Western Balkans, while both having an emotional meltdown. Featuring a collection of texts by both local authors and foreign experts on the region. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist Aleksandar Brezar and political scientist Jasmin Mujanović, and with graphics provided by Boris...

How have regional leaders responded to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Western Balkans? Are restrictions on media freedom and public discourse the the way to deal with a viral contagion - or is this another alarming moment of regional democratic backsliding? And what exactly is a "zeljanik"? All this and more on Episode 21. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by...

On our big 20th episode spectacular, we talk with sevdah singer and scholar Damir Imamović ahead of the April 3, 2020 release of his new album, "Singer of Tales". We discuss the origins of the sevdah genre, its post-war revitalization, and what Damir considers sevdah's "punk ethos". Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist Aleksandar Brezar and political scientist Jasmin...

We speak with Giovanni Vale of Extinguished Countries about how he and his partner came up with the idea for " the first guidebook series about countries that no longer exist" and, in particular, the first volume in the series on the continuing legacies of the Republic of Venice presence in the Western Balkans. Also, we discuss the current global health crisis, and the different forms of solidarity and coping methods seen and needed in Italy and elsewhere. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast...

We talk completely ineffective Balkan folk remedies for COVID19, rheumatism, and everything in between with freelance journalist Una Hajdari. We also touch on her comparative experiences reporting on others parts of post-socialist Eastern Europe -- and whether propuh/promaja is as deadly as they say. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist Aleksandar Brezar and political...

It's the first ever Sarajevo Calling interview episode, featuring the guys in conversation with journalist Valerie Hopkins of the Financial Times. We'll discuss Valerie's start as a reporter in the region, her perspective on Hungary's growing influence in the Balkans, and the significance of recent U.S.-led breakthroughs (?!) in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western...

What is the likely political impact of the coronavirus going to be in the Western Balkans, and do these societies have the resources to deal with this outbreak? And speaking of viruses, what is Milorad Dodik playing at with his recent threats of secession, and how can Bosnia overcome the disease of nationalist-sectarianism. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist...

What's behind the apparent breakthrough in Kosovo-Serbia relations, as brokered by the new U.S. Presidential envoy Richard Grenell -- and what happened to the EU in the process? And what exactly is happening in the Sarajevo Canton and who - if anyone - presently constitutes the government? All this and a lot of terrible puns, this week on "Sarajevo Calling". Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western...

This week on “Sarajevo Calling”, the boys count down the big political stories of the year while discussing the particular and peculiar culture surrounding the marking of New Year’s Eve in the Western Balkans. And all of this with a spread of musical interludes! Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the Western Balkans. Hosted by journalist Aleksandar Brezar and political scientist Jasmin Mujanović, and with...

What are the intersections between dignity and humiliation, on the one hand, and pervasive patterns of corruption and dignity, on the other, in the Western Balkans? Will there ever be a "revolution of dignity" in this region? And what would that require? This week, with heads held high, on "Sarajevo Calling". This time, we are asking you to consider making a donation to the humanitarian aid efforts after the most recent deadly earthquake in Albania, in lieu of your support for our podcast....

French obstruction of the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, a second U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans region, elections and coalition making in Kosovo, and the question that has plagued philosophers since the dawn of organized political life: what's the difference between a pundit and analyst? It's Sarajevo Calling, Lucky No. 13. Sarajevo Calling is a podcast about Southeast European affairs, focusing in particular on the contemporary politics of the...