Security in the Western Balkans – Current State and Prospects

Abstract

: This paper examines the security in the Western Balkans in the context of current social happenings. In this regard, the dominant problems in the region itself were identified as external influences, and their implications for the security in the region analyzed. The theoretical framework for the analysis is the Regional Security Complex Theory developed by the Copenhagen School of Security Studies. The Western Balkans is geopolitically a very important region, and current problems pose a great challenge to the Western Balkan countries, the European Union and other key actors with geopolitical interests in this region. First, this paper gives a brief overview of the geopolitics of the Western Balkans, then it analyzes the current security dynamics and outlines the prospect of the Western Balkans regional security subcomplex. Due to different interests, particularly those of the Western Balkan countries and other geopolitical actors who have or aspire to have greater influence in this region, the prospects for the Western Balkans look very uncertain. The complex relations in the region, guided by different external influences and different interests of the Western Balkan countries, are much closer to the security regime, including the possibility of an eruption of conflicts or becoming a conflict formation.