Serbia as a regional leader

Sometimes it is not a good idea to be a leader. A leader can be easily acccused of seeking hegemony over others. No, Serbia should be her own boss. She should look after her own economy first and try to grow rich as quickly as possible. Then Serbia will no longer be easily bullied by the West financially. Let those in the West spend their money (and maybe become bankrupt later) to look after the rest of the Balkans and take the flake for hegemonism. Look at Afghanistan and Iraq -- Nato spent so much money in arms and projects in these places, and today they are bogged down by the Talaban and insurgents. They are now desperately trying to get out without humiliation.

when will people learn that having serbia is a main leader in anything is not a good idea. countries and people in region will not accept it.

Sigh. OK folks, let's just take a step back and analyze this article before we all scream Greater Serbian expansionism again. First, Serbia as a "regional" leader would be considered an economic leader within a cooperative team of interdependent regional markets. Belgrade has always been a keystone within the Balkans, and in a reuniting region, Belgrade and Serbia could benefit and be benefitted by working with other markets and firms. Second, I truly believe that Serb public opinion is not only tired of political ideas of expansionism and hegemony, if there was any popular acceptance of that in the 1990s, but has no desire to completely dominate the market. Having been to the region and having lots of friends there too, they all collectively want an impoved economy and better standards of living. Just as Ireland has benefitted from EU integration, so too could Serbia and its neighbors.

Sometimes it is not a good idea to be a leader. A leader can be easily acccused of seeking hegemony over others. No, Serbia should be her own boss. She should look after her own economy first and try to grow rich as quickly as possible. Then Serbia will no longer be easily bullied by the West financially. Let those in the West spend their money (and maybe become bankrupt later) to look after the rest of the Balkans and take the flake for hegemonism. Look at Afghanistan and Iraq -- Nato spent so much money in arms and projects in these places, and today they are bogged down by the Talaban and insurgents. They are now desperately trying to get out without humiliation.

when will people learn that having serbia is a main leader in anything is not a good idea. countries and people in region will not accept it.

Sigh. OK folks, let's just take a step back and analyze this article before we all scream Greater Serbian expansionism again. First, Serbia as a "regional" leader would be considered an economic leader within a cooperative team of interdependent regional markets. Belgrade has always been a keystone within the Balkans, and in a reuniting region, Belgrade and Serbia could benefit and be benefitted by working with other markets and firms. Second, I truly believe that Serb public opinion is not only tired of political ideas of expansionism and hegemony, if there was any popular acceptance of that in the 1990s, but has no desire to completely dominate the market. Having been to the region and having lots of friends there too, they all collectively want an impoved economy and better standards of living. Just as Ireland has benefitted from EU integration, so too could Serbia and its neighbors.