Srpska politička misao (Serbian Political Thought) is the Institute’s flagship publication and has been among the most respectable social science journals in Serbia and the region for over twenty years. The journal’s primary focus is on the research of political theory and its fundamental concepts, without thematic limitations: the editorial team’s interdisciplinary approach has not narrowed its scope exclusively to the study of political science phenomena, but has expanded its focus to issues in philosophy, sociology, political economy and international relations. Its contributors include the most eminent professors and researchers in various social science disciplines from Serbia, the region and further abroad. Over time, it has gradually profiled itself as a referent publication for the defining of Serbian political science and political thought on the whole. The journal’s editorial policy aims for world standards in scientific research and is committed not only to the description, but also to the practical modelling of political culture, in line with the modern trends in political sciences. The journal is published six times a year.
SYNERGY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES – AN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF THE IDENTITY OF NATIONAL MINORITIES
Copyright (c) 2026 Serbian political thought
The United States and the World Order: From Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Donald J. Trump
COLORED REVOLUTIONS – CONTEMPORARY FORMS AND EXPERIENCES
KOSOVO* SPECIALIST CHAMBERS: ORIGINS, LEGAL NATURE, AND POLITICAL ROLE IN THE CONTEXT OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
This paper examines the legal nature and institutional framework of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor. The author offers a critical analysis of the establishment process, institutional structure, and political function of the Specialist Chambers, with particular emphasis on the role of the European Union in their creation and operational activities. The study also addresses the key jurisprudential challenges these institutions face. Special attention is devoted to the functioning to date of the Specialist Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor – institutions established within the legal system of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo, mandated to investigate and prosecute serious crimes committed in Kosovo and Metohija between 1998 and 2000. The methodological framework of the paper includes both normative and critical methods, with the aim of determining the legal nature and re-examining the functioning of these institutions through the analysis of international legal instruments. In addition to the positivist legal approach, the paper also presents a critical theoretical framework.
ПРОМЕНА РЕГИОНАЛНЕ РАВНОТЕЖЕ СНАГА КАО ПРЕДУСЛОВ ЗА ОРУЖАНУ ИНТЕРВЕНЦИЈУ АЗЕРБЕЈЏАНА У НАГОРНО-КАРАБАХУ 2020. ГОДИНЕ
The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020 decisively influenced the regional security architecture of the South Caucasus and the fate of the protracted Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over the status of this mountainous enclave. This paper aims to examine the circumstances that enabled Azerbaijan’s military victory and the transformation of the regional order. The theoretical framework applied is neoclassical realism, which integrates structural factors and unit-level variables in the analysis of states’ foreign policy. The paper argues that the altered regional balance of power constituted an essential precondition for Azerbaijan’s armed intervention and subsequent triumph in the autumn of 2020. This shift resulted from a combination of interrelated factors. The first pertains to Russia’s neutral stance toward the warring parties, accompanied by a gradual weakening of its regional supremacy. The second concerns the growing role of Turkey as Azerbaijan’s ally, which particularly contributed to the rapid modernisation of Baku’s armed forces. Finally, the passivity of Iran and the West, along with the deepening military cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan, further strengthened Baku’s regional position. These factors reshaped the regional order in the South Caucasus and made Azerbaijan’s military intervention possible.
“SERBS OF MOSAIC FAITH”: AN ANALYSIS OF DAVID A. KOEN’S “ORATIONS” AS A MODEL FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATION OF JEWS
This article presents an analysis of the formation and discursive structure of texts collected in the book Orations Dedicated to the Serb Youth of Mosaic Faith, as a reflection of a particular project of integration of the Jewish population into the framework of the Serbian nation towards the end of the 19th century. Based on the theoretical foundations of Rogers Brubaker and Siniša Malešević, the key ideological elements of such a project are identified, which allows for gaining insights both about the scope of conceptualising nationality immediately following the formation of a nation-state in the Balkans and the ways in which representatives of minority groups could present themselves as potential participants in shaping such conceptions. Following a contextualist approach, the analysis aims at uncovering a “political language”, one significantly informed by particular socio-political relations on the basis of which it may be (and may have been) possible to understand the nation and nationhood at a particular time and place.
This scholarly paper examines the prospects and strategic significance of cooperation between Serbia and India within the BRICS platform. Special attention is devoted to the economic dimension of cooperation, especially in international politics, economics, trade, finance, and agriculture. The paper aims to highlight the importance of a more balanced global financial architecture. In this context, Serbia’s potential engagement with BRICS through enhanced cooperation with India is presented as an opportunity for both countries, with an emphasis on their cooperation in science, education, and agriculture. In conclusion, the authors explain that Serbia–India cooperation represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen economic sovereignty and foster sustainable development, while contributing to a more equitable and multipolar international order.
THE DISCOURSE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AFTER THE COLD WAR
The paper analyses the United States’ approach to national security after the Cold War. The research is primarily conducted through an analysis of U.S. national security strategy documents from 1991 to 2025. The authors discuss the U.S. national security strategy document in the first part of the paper, as it originated in the United States. The second part of the paper analyses American strategies after the Cold War, from President George H. W. Bush in 1991 to President Joseph Biden in 2022. A special section is devoted to the analysis of the most recent U.S. National Security Strategy, published by the Trump administration in 2025. By applying the comparative method, content analysis, and the case study method, the authors reach the following conclusion: Politics is dominant, because interests rule the world, but strategy answers the question – how? All U.S. national security strategies after the Cold War are directed toward global leadership and/or U.S. hegemony; what differs is the discourse of presidential administrations within them and their conduct in practice.
SYSTEMIC AND CULTURAL PROTECTION OF PRIVACY IN SERBIA: TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE LAW IN A TRANSITIONAL CONTEXT
This paper examines the normative, institutional, and cultural framework for privacy protection in the Republic of Serbia, focusing on the challenges of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The core assumption is that current regulation fails to provide comprehensive and sustainable protection of privacy as a fundamental right. The methodology relies on normative, comparative, and critical analysis of constitutional provisions, legislation, institutional reports, and practice. Results reveal legal fragmentation, weak implementation, and limited public and institutional awareness. The conclusion emphasises the need for constitutional reform, the adoption of a systemic privacy law, and the development of cultural infrastructure to protect digital dignity.
CRITICAL REVIEW OF SOPHISTIC MODELS OF PERSUASION REGARDING THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AND INFLUENCE ON MODERN POLITICAL RHETORIC
Sophists were professional teachers of primarily rhetoric who imparted their knowledge to young men in the Greek world. They were active in the fifth century BC, and their influence, above all on rhetoric, was enormous both on later centuries and classical Greek authors, and up to the present day. This is especially reflected in political rhetoric, which is based on persuasion, i.e., convincing listeners by using various rhetorical techniques, the foundations of which were laid by the sophists. It is a common opinion that democratic campaigns should be based on rational argumentation based on the truth, but in practice, this is not the case, and they are more often based on opinion and not necessarily on truth. The basis of doxastic argumentation was laid by the sophists. This paper will analyze certain attitudes of the sophists as well as fragments of their works that indicate that their thought is still present in the political space, using and analyzing the best examples from the most famous sophistic representatives, namely Protagoras and Gorgias. Some of their principles are implemented in modern political campaigns in democratic systems, which reproduce the structural models of persuasion developed by the sophists, where the emphasis was on performance, the impression that was left and effective presentation.
TOWARDS THE NEW SOCIAL POLICY: EUROPEANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL POLICY OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
The paper examines the policy of financial support for families with children as an integral part of social policy in Serbia. Its aim is to present and critically analyze the design, scope, and effectiveness of four key measures of the policy of financial support for families with children –maternity leave, parental allowance, child allowance, and preschool subsidies – and to compare it with contemporary European policy trends. The scientific significance of the paper lies in its contribution to understanding the transformation of the national family-oriented social policies in post-transition contexts and their political implications within social policy reforms. By integrating the political, economic, and social dimensions of financial support measures, it expands existing knowledge on how public policies address demographic challenges, gender equality, and child welfare. The focus is on the coverage and adequacy of targeted cash benefits as well as the development of the national design of parental leaves and its generosity in the process of harmonization with the standards of the European Union. The paper has the potential to inform evidence-based policymaking by offering recommendations for improving financial support measures, strengthening parental equality, and reducing child poverty. The comparative analysis with European Union policies highlights gaps and opportunities for policy harmonization, emphasizing the need for sustainable, inclusive, and investment-oriented approaches to the policy of financial support for families with children in Serbia.
RATIONALIZATION OF REPRODUCTION – PATH TOWARDS DEHUMANIZATION OF HUMANITY: POLITICAL, LEGAL, AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EMBRYO SELECTION
Artificial Intelligence is becoming an essential part of human life, and the creation of life is no exception. While using AI in biomedically assisted reproduction (BMAR) gives new hope to couples struggling with infertility, it also raises a difficult question: where are the ethical limits of letting a machine interfere with human conception? This paper argues that the growing “rationalization” of the reproductive process through AI selection is not just a technical upgrade, but a deeply political and complex issue. In this paper, we analyze the legal and ethical risks of this trend, specifically focusing on how the process of conception is becoming “dehumanized”. A major concern is that we are relying too much on algorithms that nobody truly understands. This “black box” nature of AI can easily undermine the autonomy of parents and the validity of their informed consent in one of the most private moments of their lives. The philosophical danger of treating human embryos as mere objects for selection, which directly threatens their inherent dignity, is also examined. With the goal of pointing out gaps in our current laws, the paper looks closely at the regulations in the Republic of Serbia. We find that existing legal solutions are not fully prepared for these new challenges. Finally, we propose new regulatory steps that would put the dignity of the embryo first. Through a prism of ethics and a warning against the loss of human empathy, this paper concludes that an uncritical use of AI in reproduction carries a serious risk of turning the act of creating a human being into a cold, mechanical procedure.
LEGALIZED EUTHANASIA: A HUMAN RIGHTS AND BIOMEDICAL ETHICAL DIAGNOSIS
Euthanasia has been the subject of much legal, religious, moral, and human rights debate in recent years. At the center of this debate is how to reconcile competing values: the wish of patients to choose to die by waiving their right to life through voluntary consent, and the necessity to uphold the inviolable right to life of every person, as recognized by Article 6 (1) of the ICCPR. Even though euthanasia is mostly illegal, there is an ever-increasing drive towards legalization. As more States begin to re-examine and, in some instances, rescind their bans on euthanasia, the international human rights legal community needs to re-examine and reconfirm its viewpoint on the utmost essential human right, that is, the inviolable natural law right to life. By validating euthanasia through national statute, the fundamental human right to live is de facto nullified for many more people than the few whose assumed right to die is compromised. Regrettably, illogical arguments based on obscure and fictional rights, such as “the right to die with dignity,” largely go unopposed, while insistence on respect for true natural law and fundamental human rights, as well as established international jus cogens norms, including the right to life, are negated. The key medical moral criteria— autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice — are characterized and illuminated in the context of euthanasia to provide a general, ethical, and moral analytical framework that aids policymakers in making ethically sound judgments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Serbian political thought
THE MACEDONIAN QUESTION: BETWEEN WESTERN AND EASTERN CULTURAL MEMORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
This paper explores the “Macedonian Question” through the lens of the cultural memory of Alexander the Great. Rather than viewing it solely in political, legal, or geopolitical terms, the study examines the ideological and cultural constructions that shape contemporary understandings of the ancient legacy. Particular attention is given to the difference between Western and Eastern cultural memory: the Western tradition primarily presents Alexander as a conqueror and bearer of imperial order, while the Eastern tradition portrays him as a cultural mediator. The paper demonstrates that these divergent interpretations are not merely academic but carry strong political implications in the present regional and international context. Contemporary Macedonia emerges as a space where these narratives collide, most visibly in the dispute over its name and the Prespa Agreement, but also in broader processes of positioning the Balkans between West and East. Thus, the Macedonian Question today is not only a matter of national identity, but also a field in which global processes of cultural hegemony, ideological construction, and strategic competition are reflected.
SEX IN RECENT GENDER POLICIES: INTERDISCIPLINARY REFLECTIONS ON THE X V. NORTH MACEDONIA CASE BEFORE THE ECTHR
This article was initially prompted by the inconsistent use of the terms sex and gender in the landmark case X v. the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (now Republic of North Macedonia) before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Although the judgment was delivered several years ago, national legal implementation remains incomplete and, to some extent, problematic. This topic remains timely more broadly, given the limited engagement of English legal discourse with the ECtHR’s evolving approach to gender recognition. The authors investigate why a seemingly straightforward legal adjustment, such as introducing a gender marker on birth certificates, has proven so contentious. Their inquiry revealed that the term gender, originally introduced to distinguish from sex, has been increasingly subsumed into the concept of sex, often being used interchangeably. The Court’s judgment reflects this conflation: at times it refers to sex, at others to gender, and frequently to both (e.g., sex/gender) without clear differentiation. This raises critical questions, foremost among them: Why was there such a concerted effort to establish gender as distinct from sex when some of the same actors now assert that the two are effectively synonymous? While the X v. North Macedonia judgment marks a significant step in affirming transgender rights, it also exposes the ECtHR’s ongoing terminological ambiguity. In the absence of clear and consistent language, and in pursuit of fulfilling human rights obligations, particularly under articles 8 and 14 of the ECtHR, a legal compromise has emerged: recognizing gender identity as a fundamental aspect of personal identity, protected under the right to respect for private life.
HOW AND WHY BULGARIA MISSED ITS CHANCE TO BECOME AN ENERGY CENTER IN THE BALKANS
THE ANATOMY OF VETTING – BETWEEN LAW AND POLITICS
The paper examines the phenomenon of vetting in the judiciary in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, as post-communist countries in the European Union accession process. Vetting is not a uniform concept, and it appears in several forms, such as review, reevaluation, and re-election (reappointment) of judges. There is no unique vetting model because it is impossible to apply it to different socio-political contexts. The author of this paper approaches vetting as an anti-corruption instrument useful in systems in which the rule of law is systematically and continuously violated, as well as the independence of judges and public prosecutors is violated. Vetting as a personnel reform programme in the judiciary should be agreed upon by a broad consensus (social, legal, and political actors) based on the constitutional and international norms. As a form and the cornerstone of administrative justice, vetting paradigm experienced a Copernican turn from transitional regimes to weak democracies. In the first case, it was a transitional justice mechanism, while in the second case, it was an instrument of recovery and strengthening the rule of law.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION- LEGAL ASPECTS
Society is undergoing rapid transformation, posing significant challenges to legal systems worldwide. A central aspect of this transformation is the development of artificial intelligence (AI). At the same time, the right to a healthy environment, guaranteed by the constitution worldwide, is a fundamental human right and concerns all citizens, because everyone affects the state of the environment. The authors in this paper, after introducing the concept of artificial intelligence itself, first deal with the current normative state of the art in this area, both at the level of international public law and at the level of domestic legal orders. After that, the importance of environmental protection, the legal framework for its protection, and the norms regarding the use of artificial intelligence in environmental protection are presented, with an appropriate conclusion.
LEGAL PROTECTION OF WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS WHEN USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The use of artificial intelligence in the work environment by both workers and employers represents the present in which many issues of labor law are realized, which indirectly affect both Commercial Law and Intellectual Property Law. In the digital age we are in, workers exercise new rights and new forms and ways of working that pose a challenge to labor legislation, while employers can use (generative) artificial intelligence tools when hiring and controlling workers, which raises a number of questions in the field of ethics, the realization of basic workers’ rights, and the protection of personal data. The issue of legal protection of artificial intelligence developed by workers in an employment relationship with an employer is open. In the spirit of the new EU regulation 2024/1689 on determining the conformity of the rules on artificial intelligence, the authors in this paper propose new legal solutions in the field of Labor Law and Intellectual Property Law (de lege ferenda).
SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD – ABUSE OF FINANCIAL (IN)ABILITY OR SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE FAMILY PLANNING METHOD
Surrogate motherhood, as one of the most sensitive and controversial issues not only in the field of contemporary family law, but also in the field of human rights law in general, has its foundations both in medical advancements and achievements and in the evolution of legal and societal awareness. Surrogacy, as an important family-building pathway, is primarily driven by a profound desire of intended parents for parenthood and the fulfillment of the most important role in life. In this paper, the author will analyze surrogate motherhood, especially focusing on the proposed legal framework of altruistic-gestational surrogacy within the Pre-draft of the Civil Code of Serbia. Using normative and axiological methods, it is questionable whether and which type of surrogacy should be understood as an abuse of rights and medical achievements. Having in mind numerous advantages of precise and restrictive provisions of surrogate motherhood as proposed in the Pre-draft of the Civil Code, it would be preferable to consider surrogacy, established as a method of female infertility treatment, a socially acceptable method of family planning.
HOW TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REGULATORY APPROACHES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, CHINA, AND THE UNITED STATES
The rapid development and implementation of artificial intelligence technology in various spheres of social activity confronts legal systems with the challenges of defining the protection of fundamental rights, liability for damage, and managing an acceptable level of risk to stimulate innovation. In the era of digital transformation, technology has become a new arena in which the interests of great powers are weighed and the contours of future global power are shaped. The regulation of artificial intelligence reflects the value, (geo)political, and (geo)economic priorities of prominent actors in this domain. The subject of the paper is a comparative analysis of the regulatory approaches of the European Union, the People's Republic of China, and the United States of America. The paper employs a qualitative study of the content of relevant strategic and normative documents to interpret the fundamental principles that underpin the selected regulatory frameworks. The main differences between them are identified, which point to internal socio-economic priorities, but also similarities that reveal global ambitions. The focus is on institutional dynamics, legislation in force, and ethical guidelines to overcome general comparisons dominant in contemporary public discourse. It is necessary to critically examine the overly simplistic view that the European approach to artificial intelligence places the protection of fundamental rights at the center stage; the American approach is dominated by the private sector and market dynamics, with excessive commercialization; while the Chinese approach is characterized by strong state control and strategic planning, along with the development of controversial surveillance systems. The implications of the observed divergent interests for the future of the ethical application of ubiquitous artificial intelligence are discussed, as well as the possibilities for eventual reconciliation of differences in order to achieve international harmonization of rules. By analyzing the specificities, but also the contradictions, of AI governance in large jurisdictions, the authors offer a rounded judgment on the (in)compatibility of value-based regulation with the pragmatic need to achieve technological supremacy. This allows for a deeper understanding of the positioning of great powers and European states embodied in the supranational Union in the global technological architecture, as well as contributing to the discussion on contemporary social challenges brought about by the seemingly unstoppable development of advanced technologies.
THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE: DIAGNOSTIC POTENTIAL, LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES
Artificial intelligence (AI) has assumed an increasingly significant role in contemporary society, particularly within the healthcare sector. While the medical community was initially hesitant to embrace advanced technologies, recent years have witnessed a rapid expansion in the integration of AI into clinical practice. This development has the potential to fundamentally reshape the ways in which diseases are diagnosed, treated, and predicted. Given that the fight against malignant diseases constitutes one of the European Union’s central health policy priorities, as articulated in the strategic document Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, this paper explores the potential of AI to advance the objectives of that agenda, with particular emphasis on enhancing screening programmes and fostering the development of personalised therapeutic approaches. The paper is organised into three thematic sections. The first section adopts an empirical approach to investigate the potential of AI in a clinical context, with a particular focus on improving diagnostic accuracy and advancing predictive analytics. The second section employs a comparative legal methodology to analyse the regulatory frameworks governing the application of AI in the healthcare systems of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia. The third section addresses key ethical challenges, including the protection of patient privacy, the mitigation of algorithmic bias, and the safeguarding of informed consent in a technology-mediated medical environment. The methodological framework of this paper is primarily grounded in qualitative analysis, encompassing both legal instruments and relevant professional and academic literature, while incorporating quantitative evidence to the extent that it is available through existing medical research.
JUSTICE UNDER SIEGE: CYBER THREATS AND THE MALICIOUS USE OF AI IN THE JUDICIARY
As judicial systems increasingly integrate digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), they become more efficient yet highly vulnerable to cyber threats and AI-driven manipulations. This paper examines the growing risks of cyberattacks targeting the judiciary, as well as the malicious use of AI in legal proceedings, both of which pose severe threats to judicial integrity, fairness, public trust, and the broader judicial policy framework. The article explores key cybersecurity vulnerabilities, including ransomware attacks on court databases, AI-powered deepfake evidence manipulation, algorithmic bias in automated decision-making, and AI-driven misinformation campaigns. The weaponisation of AI in legal contexts, through fraudulent case manipulation, automated hacking, and digital surveillance, raises profound concerns about due process, judicial independence, and access to justice. These challenges directly affect judicial policy, as they demand new safeguards and adaptive governance models capable of preserving impartiality and accountability in an increasingly digital justice environment. By analysing real-world incidents and international regulatory approaches, this paper outlines strategies for strengthening judicial cybersecurity and safeguarding AI applications. Recommendations include enhanced digital forensics, AI transparency requirements, independent auditing mechanisms, and cross-border legal cooperation to combat cyber threats and AI misuse in the judiciary. Crucially, these measures must be integrated into judicial policy at national and supranational levels to ensure the resilience of reforms. As courts continue to embrace digital transformation, a proactive and resilient security framework is essential to preserve the rule of law in an era of evolving cyber threats and AI-driven legal manipulations. This study underscores the urgent need for global legal and technological safeguards to protect justice systems from digital exploitation and AI-enhanced cyberattacks.
PERSPECTIVES OF THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
The paper analyses the use of artificial intelligence in the exercise of competences of local self-government in the Republic of Serbia. After the introductory considerations, which also include a short review of the legal framework of the AI in the Republic of Serbia, there is an analysis of different possibilities of using AI in the performance of communal activities in general. After that, there is a brief presentation of the concept of local self-government in Serbia and its shortcomings, and then the discussion about possibilities of applying AI in municipalities and cities in the Republic of Serbia, primarily bearing in mind their size and scope of competences. In the concluding considerations, the results of the research are summarized, with particular emphasis on three key points for the wider application of artificial intelligence in local self-government in the Republic of Serbia in the future.
RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY AT THE FRONTIER OF AI: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF DEEP LEARNING PIONEERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THREATS AND GOVERNANCE
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes global societies, understanding its associated risks and governance imperatives is of urgent social importance. This study fills a critical gap by systematically analyzing extended interviews with Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio, and Yann LeCun—the chief architects of deep learning—to elucidate their firsthand perspectives on AI’s existential, ethical, social, and governance challenges. Employing qualitative thematic analysis across six longitudinal interview transcripts, the research identifies both convergences and divergences: Hinton and Bengio strongly emphasize existential threats, superintelligence hazards, AI weapons risks and the need for robust global regulation, while LeCun expresses technological optimism and favors decentralized, open development. All acknowledge economic disruption, misuse potential, and fractures in democratic discourse. The study’s findings reveal that expert opinion on AI risk is far from monolithic and highlights actionable, innovative governance proposals—from regulated compute access to “diversity engines” in social media feeds. Implications include the necessity for adaptive, internationally coordinated AI governance and greater professional accountability among developers. Limitations include a focus on elite, Anglophone experts and inherent subjectivity in qualitative coding. Future research should expand to multi-stakeholder and cross-national perspectives, and test proposed regulatory frameworks in real-world contexts, addressing the ongoing evolution of risk as AI permeates new domains.
PILOT RETURN MIGRATION POLICY INDEX: CASE STUDY OF SLOVENIA
WHEN GLOBAL CIVILIZATION INITIATIVE MEETS PRACTICE – SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION
Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) was launched in Beijing on March 15, 2023, when China’s President Xi Jinping delivered a speech titled Join Hands on the Path Towards Modernization at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting. For the purpose of this article, we will analyse the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), since we understand this organization as one of the best examples of implementing the Global Civilization Initiative in practice. This paper argues that the SCO, through its emphasis on multilateralism, non-interference, and a shared vision of regional security and development, embodies key concepts of the GCI's proposed framework for international relations. By analysing the SCO's foundational principles, its evolving institutional mechanisms, and its responses to regional challenges, this paper demonstrates how the organization fosters a "new type of international relations" characterized by dialogue, mutual respect, and a rejection of zero-sum approaches. The paper highlights the SCO's role in promoting cultural exchange and civilizational diversity, thereby offering a practical example of how the GCI seeks to build a more inclusive and harmonious global order. We structured our research in this direction for several reasons. First, China launched both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Global Civilization Initiative. Second, both are rooted in Chinese values, norms, and interpretations of international relations, security order, modernization, and the idea of building a shared future. Third, the SCO and GCI promote a framework in which civilizational differences are seen as drivers of mutual learning and solidarity, rather than as fault lines to justify the imposition of one’s own values, political systems, or economic models, or to fuel ideological confrontation. In this sense, both the SCO and GCI embrace cooperation as a guiding principle in shaping international relations. Both initiatives demonstrate that a strong sense of equality among actors contributes directly to a shared sense of togetherness. Last but not least, we consider it significant that both also serve China’s broader strategic interests—diplomatic, economic, security-related, developmental, and political.
THE MIROR OF THE ABSOLUTE: HEROIC CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE AGE OF AI
This paper explores Hegel’s conception of the absolute idea and the world-historical individual as a framework for interpreting the political implications of artificial intelligence. By situating AI within Hegel’s dialectical unfolding of spirit, the paper argues that AI is not merely a technological artifact but a reflective moment in the self-realization of the idea. Drawing on Hegel’s notions of freedom, historical necessity, and the sovereignty of reason, the analysis positions AI as a political phenomenon that challenges contemporary understandings of autonomy, responsibility, and the human-technological relation. The paper adopts a philosophical methodology grounded in speculative dialectics and engages recent literature on AI ethics and political agency to demonstrate how Hegel’s metaphysics can illuminate the political stakes of algorithmic development, as it becomes a mirror of the absolute on the stage of historical consciousness rediscovering itself through time. The journey of the absolute idea entails the gradual unveiling of its constituent elements, and the AI emerges as a fragment of this intricate puzzle, potentially serving as a part of the process or a reflective image. Given the absolute idea’s inherent power and its predestined role in shaping the course of life, every element within its domain becomes an integral part of its journey, its metamorphosis, and its reflection in a mirror of hope amidst the ever-changing reality. However, this transformation transcends mere superficiality, transforming into a profound, transformative, and powerful metamorphosis.
LEGAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION OF AI IN SERBIA, LATVIA, AND THE EU
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being rapidly integrated across numerous sectors, with the financial industry at the forefront of technological transformation. It is influencing processes such as credit evaluation, fraud detection, risk modelling, and personalised financial services. This expansion increases the need for coherent legal frameworks, ethical governance, and financial sustainability, particularly regarding user protection, algorithmic transparency, safety, and liability for negative outcomes. This study offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of AI regulatory frameworks in the Republic of Serbia, Latvia, and the European Union (EU). Using a multidisciplinary qualitative methodology that integrates normative legal analysis, economic evaluation, and ethical considerations, the research is investigates Serbia’s harmonisation efforts with EU standards, Latvia’s implementation of the EU AI Act and complementary financial mechanisms, and the EU’s comprehensive regulatory architecture, including the AI Act and GDPR. Key findings identify shared legal challenges such as accountability, transparency, data protection, and the agility of regulatory frameworks in adapting to rapid AI innovation. From a financial perspective, the study identifies compliance costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), confusion in liability distribution, and budgetary pressures on supervisory authorities. Regulatory fragmentation presents a significant barrier to cross-border AI innovation and internal market coherence. The paper concludes with policy recommendations focused on enhancing regulatory harmonisation, financial feasibility, and ethical guidance, aiming to foster sustainable AI integration that balances innovation with social protections.