GeoPower Interdependence Database Launched

The CAS SEE announces the launch of the Interdependence Database, developed within the GeoPower project.

The Interdependence Database offers a dynamic and interactive way to explore how 6 Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia), 3 Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova) are linked to 5 geopolitical actors (the European Union, United States, Russia, China, and Turkey). This unique tool maps and analyzes key bilateral interdependencies across political, economic, societal, and security domains between 2007–2024, with updates planned annually.

Explore the database: https://geo-power.eu/research-output/database

The methodological framework was developed by the partners engaged in the GeoPower consortium coordinated by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW) and CAS SEE. Sonja Stojanović Gajić, CAS SEE Senior Research Fellow, led the design of methodology for the security dimension of interdependence, building on her rich experience of doing research on security policies. She explains the assumptions behind this research tool:

“The database defines interdependence through tangible linkages such as institutional arrangements between states and influential sub-state actors, shared practices like coordinated voting or joint military exercises, and various forms of exchange — from trade and migration to political contacts. These linkages are essential for the potential exercise of influence, but their presence alone does not guarantee it. This nuance is central to understanding the complexity of power in contemporary international relations.”

Who Should Use the Database?

The Interdependence Database was created with a wide range of users in mind:

• Researchers and scholars in international relations, political economy, and regional studies can use it to identify trends, test theories, or supplement case studies with robust data.
• Policy makers and analysts will find it invaluable for assessing strategic partnerships, identifying risks, and informing foreign policy or development strategies.
• Civil society actors and journalists can use it to ground advocacy and reporting in reliable, structured information.
• Educators and students benefit from its clarity and interactivity, making it a strong teaching tool for courses on geopolitics, regional cooperation, or global affairs.

By covering over 15 years of data and offering a structured lens on Europe’s dynamic geopolitical environment, the Interdependence Database enables users to assess not only who is connected to whom, but how, why, and with what implications. It contributes to a broader understanding of how small and medium-sized countries navigate their positions between global powers — not only through coercion or alignment, but through everyday practices of cooperation, dependency, and exchange.