I am trying to write about the Balkans less, but I am also leaving room for exceptions. As such, I have a new piece out in the New Statesman this weekend, this time on everyone’s favorite Spring/Summer 2026 Balkan subject: Jared Kushner’s planned development projects in Albania, and the huge popular backlash to them. The piece also gets into Kushner’s designs on Belgrade, which were thwarted by popular resistance last year–a success that I don’t think gets talked about enough. On the topic of Balkan protest I can vacillate between extravagant optimism and total despair, sometimes in the space of a single hour. But sustained popular opposition to Kushner’s plans really did force his firm to reconsider, so these protests can yield the desired results.
I’m especially thankful for insights from Celik Rruplli, who has a Substack where he covers IR, social and cultural issues. An important read for anyone interested in Albania.
Finally, for those who read Albanian, the independent publication Lapsi has already translated it with impressive speed.
More Balkans writing please 🙏