About the event
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 discussion will take place online via Zoom Webinar, and will be later posted to the National Endowment for Democracy’s YouTube channel.
about the speakers
Vanja Ćalović Marković is the executive director of MANS, a nongovernmental organization that counters corruption and organized crime in Montenegro. She is also a member of the Balkan Trust for Democracy’s advisory board and has worked for the Government of Montenegro’s Council for Fighting High Level Corruption, among other positions both in government as well as various civil society organizations. Vanja writes widely on the topics related to corruption, organized crime, and authoritarian influence.
Christopher Walker is the vice president for studies and analysis at the National Endowment for Democracy. He oversees the multidimensional department that is responsible for NED’s analytical and thought leadership efforts, which pursues its goals through several interrelated initiatives: International Forum for Democratic Studies; the Journal of Democracy; the Reagan-Fascell fellowship program for international democracy activists; and the Center for International Media Assistance. Prior to joining the NED, Walker was vice president for strategy and analysis at Freedom House.
Tanja Dramac Jiries, Ph.D. is deputy director for Europe at the National Endowment for Democracy. Tanja oversees over $35 million in democracy assistance to more than 350 civil society organizations, think tanks, and independent media across Europe. She has 14+ years of progressive experience providing strategic leadership in challenging political and security environments. She is also a political scientist and analyst of European and international affairs with a PhD cum laude from Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna.
Kevin Sheives serves as the deputy director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy. He helps oversee the Forum’s staff and research on authoritarian influence, disinformation, emerging technology, and transnational kleptocracy. Kevin served nearly fifteen years in the U.S. government with the State Department’s China Desk and the Global Engagement Center, and in positions at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Defense, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Martin Vladimirov is the director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), a European public policy institute, where he focuses on structural geoeconomic shifts and European energy and climate security. He has been also exploring the threat from the malign Russian economic influence over the past decade co-authoring the Kremlin Playbook series covering Europe, Latin America and Africa. Martin is also managing the Energy and Climate Security Risk Index and spearheading CSD’s research on strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia.
Martin Hála, Ph.D. is the founder and director of Sinopsis.cz, a China-focused research project based in Prague, Czech Republic. He is also a researcher and lecturer at the Department of Chinese Studies, Charles University, Prague. Educated in Prague, Shanghai, Berkeley and Harvard, he has taught at Universities in Prague, Bratislava and Lisbon, and led projects in various countries in Asia. Prior to founding Sinopsis, he was the Regional Manager for Asia Pacific at the Open Society Foundations.
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