Beyond the EU as the ‘Only Game in Town’: the Europeanisation of the Western Balkans and the role of China

The prospect of accession of the Western Balkans into the EU has been declining, with Brussels unwilling to accept new members, and the Western Balkan region becoming indifferent towards adopting EU-imposed norms. Although this process has been extensively studied, the academic literature has largely omitted the roles of external actors. This article fills the gap by focusing on China and its role vis-à-vis the ongoing Europeanisation of Serbia and Montenegro, both of which host significant Chinese investments and are regional frontrunners in the EU enlargement process. We begin by addressing theoretical aspects of Europeanisation and then apply this framework to our case studies. Our position is that the two states’ turn to the policy of alternatives is the result of failing Europeanisation, allowing them to deepen their engagement with China an action that has become synonymous with the policy of alternatives to EU enlargement.