Sam Vaknin
The national economies of the world can be divided to the scavenger and
the predator types. The former are parasitic economies which feed off
the latter. The relationship is often not that of symbiosis, where two
parties maintain a mutually beneficial co-existence. Here, one economy
feeds off others in a way, which is harmful, even detrimental to the
hosts. But this interaction - however undesirable - is the region's
only hope.
The typology of scavenger economies reveals their sources of
sustenance:
Conjunctural - These economies feed off historical or economic
conjunctures or crises. They position themselves as a bridge between
warring or conflicting parties. Switzerland rendered this service to
Nazi Germany (1933-1945), Macedonia and Greece to Serbia (1992 to the
present), Cyprus aided and abetted Russia (1987 to the present), Jordan
for Iraq (1991 to the present), and now, Montenegro acts the part for
both Serbia and Kosovo. These economies consist of smuggling, siege
breaking, contraband, arms trade and illegal immigration.
They benefit economically by violating both international and domestic
laws and by providing international outcasts and rogues with
alternative routes of supply, and with goods and services.
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