Positioning of the Western Balkans in the Restructuring Chapter of International Relations: Between Economic Cohesion and Political Disagreements

Jelisavac Trošić, Sanja and Arnaudov, Mitko (2025) Positioning of the Western Balkans in the Restructuring Chapter of International Relations: Between Economic Cohesion and Political Disagreements. In: Energy and International Relations Security, Transition and Regional Realities. Halic Publishing House, İstanbul, Türkiye, pp. 9-24. ISBN 978-625-92720-7-8

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Abstract

The Western Balkans political entities are the most suitable "formula" for naming the members of this "political" framework bearing in mind that the statehood in certain cases is a disputable question on bilateral and regional level, but also taking into account the fact that the process of acquiring full statehood is, not in formal, but in pragmatic way, still not completed. From academic perspective, naming Western Balkans members as political entities provides a huge and essential explanation about the challenges, risks and threats which are facing, but it also refers a lot about their sustainability in the context of contemporary international relations faced with the probably multi-level forced process of restructuring. Namely, there are huge possibilities from certain scholars to problematize this thesis about the uncompleted statehood process of Western Balkans actors, but, if we analyze the obstacles which Western Balkans is facing during the last 35 years, since the disintegration of Yugoslavia, we could reach certainly relevant data in favor for placing such thesis. In fact, it is not appropriate thesis just for explanation the past 35 years of political, security and economic flows within the mentioned, politically framed region, but certainly for providing explanation about the upcoming period which also should include recommendations about the regional positioning within the international relations mosaic. The essence of the issue is, through this paper, to find out what kind of essential obstacles is facing Western Balkans actors, precising their similarities and differences, and thus trying to determine their foreign policy positioning, including comprehensive sustainability in the new waves of international relations analyzing from the perspective of potentials for regional cooperation, coordination and integration. Bearing in mind that we are talking about so-called micro and small political entities, with reached formal statehood or with statehood intentions, this study will have also important contribution in understanding the positioning and, thus, sustainability of small and micro states in the new chapter of international relations where the principles of UN Charter are mostly violated.

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