The David McWilliams Podcast Can Europe’s “Hidden Continent” Finally Break Free?
Feb 26, 2026
A tour of the Balkans from Belgrade to the football terraces and rom-coms. Conversations about Kosovo’s role in regional politics and Serbia’s deep ties with Russia. Explanations of 1990s hyperinflation, sanctions and wartime memory. Notes on a youthful, pro‑European push against corruption and the region’s comeback potential.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
A Night At The Belgrade Derby
- David McWilliams attended the Belgrade Derby between Red Star and Partizan and described an intense, low-cost fan atmosphere.
- For ~€5 tickets, stadiums fill with ultras, flares, riot police, and deafening noise unlike corporatised UK matches.
How War Created Serbia's Hyperinflationary Collapse
- Serbia's economic collapse was driven by hyperinflation and isolation after Milosevic financed wars by printing dinars.
- Sanctions, worthless currency, and blocked trade destroyed FDI and technology transfer, turning Serbia into an economic cul-de-sac.
Why Serbia Looks To Russia
- Serbia's pro-Russian stance stems from deep religious and historical ties, not just recent politics.
- Shared Orthodox Christianity, Cyrillic script, and mutual enemies (Ottomans and Austro-Germans) make Russia a long-term protector in Serbian worldview.