BELGRADE – SERBIA
500+ participants / 80+ panelists / 16+ panels
BSC2024
18-20 NOVEMBER
Day 3
11:15 – 12:15
Beyond Ideology: Organised Crime and Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans
| The links between violent extremist groups and criminal organisations pose significant security threats in the Western Balkans, with local, national, regional and international implications. Far-right extremists, often driven by nationalist sentiments, have deep ties to politicians and officials, forming quasi-private militias that undermine governance and fuel criminal networks. Similarly, the rise of religious radicalisation, with foreign fighters from the region joining conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, draws international attention to the region’s security challenges. Both far-right and religious extremist groups extend their influence beyond the Western Balkans, particularly in Western Europe, through strong diaspora connections. These alliances not only destabilise local security but also facilitate global drug trafficking and organised crime. How is violent extremism linked to organised crime in the Western Balkans? How do these extremist groups collaborate with criminal networks across borders? In which illicit markets? What role does political instability in the Balkans play in empowering them? What strategies can disrupt these dangerous alliances? These are the main questions that will be discussed at the panel co-hosted with Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. |