1837 | The UK established diplomatic relationships with Serbia
1882 | The US established diplomatic relationships with Serbia
1940 | British Council office opens in Belgrade, Serbia
1882 | The US established diplomatic relationships with Serbia
1940 | British Council office opens in Belgrade, Serbia
In the 1990s during which Milošević ruled and tensions were high between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the US severed diplomatic ties with Serbia. The US Embassy in Serbia re-opened in 2001 after the ousting of Milošević.
During times of political or economic turmoil, Serbia has experienced a "brain drain" or diaspora of Serbs into the United States (and other countries). During and after World War II, many Serbians emigrated to the United States and other countries without communist regimes. Additionally, in the 1990s with the political turmoil of Milošević's rule, highly educated Serbs and refugees of the Yugoslavian Wars immigrated to other countries in mass numbers. While the most number of Serbian immigrants move to countries within Europe such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, United States also receives a high number of Serbian immigrants. Furthest down on the list of countries to which Serbs immigrate to, according to the International Organization for Migration's Migration in Serbia 2008 country profile, is the United Kingdom.
The United States may be perceived as a country where Serbians can improve their socioeconomic status more so than in the United Kingdom. The International Organization for Migration cites that "Migratory decisions are primarily connected to the increasing need to seek material improvements for the individual and/or family’s livelihood, as migration from Kosovo, working abroad, and sending remittances home are regrettably viewed by many as the only means of ensuring the well-being of the family" (Chindea, A., Majkowska-Tomkin, M., Mattila, H., & Pastor, I., 2008, p. 62).
During times of political or economic turmoil, Serbia has experienced a "brain drain" or diaspora of Serbs into the United States (and other countries). During and after World War II, many Serbians emigrated to the United States and other countries without communist regimes. Additionally, in the 1990s with the political turmoil of Milošević's rule, highly educated Serbs and refugees of the Yugoslavian Wars immigrated to other countries in mass numbers. While the most number of Serbian immigrants move to countries within Europe such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, United States also receives a high number of Serbian immigrants. Furthest down on the list of countries to which Serbs immigrate to, according to the International Organization for Migration's Migration in Serbia 2008 country profile, is the United Kingdom.
The United States may be perceived as a country where Serbians can improve their socioeconomic status more so than in the United Kingdom. The International Organization for Migration cites that "Migratory decisions are primarily connected to the increasing need to seek material improvements for the individual and/or family’s livelihood, as migration from Kosovo, working abroad, and sending remittances home are regrettably viewed by many as the only means of ensuring the well-being of the family" (Chindea, A., Majkowska-Tomkin, M., Mattila, H., & Pastor, I., 2008, p. 62).
Much of the contact between the US/UK and Serbia currently revolves around their support of Serbia joining the European Union. The United States and United Kingdom both have embassies in Serbia. The US Embassy's website offers resources for learning and teaching English in Serbia included Massive Open Online Courses and scholarship programs. Additionally, the British Council in Serbia's website offers online channels, courses, and apps for learning English. The British Council in Serbia also hosted British linguist David Crystal who gave a series of interviews and lectures in 2013 about the globalism and importance of the English language.
The British Council in Serbia's YouTube channel showcases an intersection between arts and the English language. The channel has a playlist dedicated to the arts in Serbia and also promotes The English Channel, a website with interactive videos about various art forms. The English Channel allows users to learn English interactively while exploring art, film, performing art, and more. The image below gives an example of how The English Channel encourages users to engage in small English language lessons and quizzes throughout each arts video.
The British Council in Serbia's YouTube channel showcases an intersection between arts and the English language. The channel has a playlist dedicated to the arts in Serbia and also promotes The English Channel, a website with interactive videos about various art forms. The English Channel allows users to learn English interactively while exploring art, film, performing art, and more. The image below gives an example of how The English Channel encourages users to engage in small English language lessons and quizzes throughout each arts video.
The British Council also launched the "English for International Co-operation" project from January to April of 2012. This project aimed to improve Serbian youth's English, specifically vocabulary related to computers and the internet through a fifty-hour course. The project frames knowledge of the English language, and specifically English internet language and communications, as a benefit to students in that it will help them navigate the world, establish new relationships, and gain financial resources. The project reached 23 cities and 550 Serbian youths. The video below, published after the completion of the project, highlights the project's aims and staff and government official opinions about the project and the English language.
BritishCouncilSerbia. (2012, June 14).
However, Serbia also has a strained relationship with the United States and United Kingdom in regards to Kosovo's secession. Serbia recalled its ambassadors in any country that supported Kosovo's secession and acknowledged its independence. In 2008, protestors overthrew and torched the US Embassy in Belgrade in response to the United State's support of Kosovo's independence. The British Embassy in Serbia was also attacked during this time.