Tag Archives: Balkan

The art of making and managing weak states

One of communism’s major fault lines can be summarized in one sentence: “The state cheats us that they pay us, and we cheat the state that we work”. Communism, as applied in old Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, produced very high … Continue reading

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Responsibility goes beyond private ownership

The sales of home cleaning products, such as Domestos and Mr Proper, are going through the roof in the Balkans. Shoes are left at the front door, and cloths are changed not to bring outside dirt into the home. Family … Continue reading

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My Four Favourite Balkan proverbs

During my 20 years in the Balkans I have found that there are some proverbs that transcend borders and time. Here are my four favourite proverbs, which have helped me at least try to understand why people do what they … Continue reading

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