Nada Dragović, a Professor at the Facutly of Forestry (University of Belgrade) examines the current state of infrastructure in Serbia and the Balkans, and how it responds to natural disasters such as the recent floods that have befallen the region. She proceeds to suggest what steps are to be taken by the regional states in order to prevent similar catastrophic events in the future.
"In May 2014, we witnessed devastating floods in Serbia, which resulted in the loss of many human lives and enormous direct and indirect damage. After the initial shock caused by the sheer size of the disaster that had befallen us and feelings of empathy with people in the flooded areas, we started to wonder whether those floods had to have such horrific adverse effects.
In Serbia, the tradition of protection of soil against flash floods and torrential rains goes back more than a hundred years. Sixty years ago, socialist Yugoslavia put forth a development plan which included the regulation of torrential catchments. The need to protect populated zones, transport infrastructure, and agricultural areas from flash floods and the imperative to increase forest resources were a priority in our country impoverished by the Second World War."
Horizons Hosts James Dorsey for a Discussion on Middle East Escalation
The Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) hosted an award-winning journalist and scholar Dr. James M. Dorsey for a special Horizons Discussion on June 23rd, 2025. In conversation with Horizons Managing Editor Stefan Antić, Dorsey unpacked the lightning-fast escalation between Israel and Iran, the Trump administration’s divided response, and the wider stakes for regional and great-power politics.
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Vuk Jeremić at St. Petersburg Economic Forum: “We Are Living in a Time of Grave Geopolitical Instability”
St. Petersburg, June 2025 – Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on the high-level panel “Eco-Rethinking of the Global Financial System,” Vuk Jeremić, President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), delivered a stark warning about the risks posed by escalating global tensions to any serious attempt at international financial system reform.
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CIRSD Hosts Ugandan Presidential Advisor Odrek Rwabwogo in Latest Horizons Discussion: A Deep Dive into Africa’s Industrial Future
The Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) hosted Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, Uganda’s Presidential Advisor on Exports and Industrial Development, as the featured guest in the latest installment of its flagship Horizons Discussion series — the main dialogue platform of Horizons journal.
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CIRSD Vice President Stefan Jovanović Speaks at Regional Conference on China’s Role in the Western Balkans
Belgrade, June 5, 2025 – Stefan Jovanović, Vice President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), participated in the regional conference “Democracy Meets Strategy: Parliament’s Place in China Policy”, held in Belgrade. The event gathered parliamentarians, policymakers, and experts from across the Western Balkans to examine the region’s evolving cooperation with the People’s Republic of China.
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