Week in Review: Hidden Dangers and Uncertain Outcomes

Social Media Jihadis

Security experts across Europe are mulling the potential risks and consequences of the return of jihadi fighters from the (now defeated) 'Islamic State'. In some corners of the Balkans, and indeed the wider continent, there are fears that their return might lead to greater radicalisation and (in)security problems at home.

While various deradicalization and monitoring measures are being put in place to deal with them, experts in the Balkans point out that an arguably bigger danger are 'social media jihadis' who peddle extremist propaganda and ideas online, but never actually went to Syria and Iraq themselves and thus remain largely out of sight. While returnees are largely known and can be monitored, this contingent is thought to be much more numerous - and much less monitored. Our analysis zooms in on the Albanian speaking communities of the region.

Read more: Balkan 'Social Media Jihadis' More Dangerous than Ex-Fighters (December 17, 2019)

An Uncertain Race

Former Croatian Prime Minister and candidate Zoran Milanovic at TV debate at Croatian National TV broadcast. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT.

Croatian voters head to the polls on Sunday to elect the country's President. Unless current opinion polls are wildly off the mark, there is almost certain to be a second round of voting two weeks later, as no candidate seems to be even close to securing an overall majority.

Current President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic went into the race as a clear favourite, while Zoran Milanovic, the former prime minister from the Social Democratic Party, SDP, was seen as the main challenger and most likely runner up. Yet as the day of the (first) vote approaches, the contest seems to have turned into a three-way race, in...