OSCE Yearbook 2018

The 24th edition of the OSCE Yearbook begins with four contributions describing current developments in European security in the shadow of the crisis in and around Ukraine, analysing the US’ policies towards Russia and discussing the ability of the OSCE to adapt to the changing conditions with fundamental reforms. The book’s special focus in 2018 is on the Western Balkans/south-east Europe, featuring contributions on Albania’s and Serbia’s prospects of EU accession, the role of UNTAES in Croatia and the agreement between Athens and Skopje. The still controversial status of Kosovo and the EU’s role in addressing the challenges posed by rising authoritarianism and increasing migration in the region are also discussed. In the chapter ‘Conflict Prevention and Dispute Settlement’; the 2018 edition contains the first special report on the work of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine’s Human Dimension Unit. Further contributions are concerned with the protracted conflicts in Transdniestria, the OSCE’s engagement in insider mediation and the status neutral approaches to the conflicts in eastern Ukraine and Transdniestria. With regard to the ‘Three Dimensions of Comprehensive Security’; a successful model for the integration of refugees in Italy is presented, and strategies to combat human trafficking in the context of refugees and migration, approaches preventing religious radicalisation in Central Asia and the concept of community policing as a key element in combating crime are also discussed. A final contribution indicates how the OSCE can strengthen the capacities of state and non-state actors in combating transnational threats. As always, the OSCE Yearbook includes extensive annexes comprising facts and figures on all 57 participating states and a selected bibliography of current research literature.