Regional Geopolitics: EU Integration Perspectives, Nationalistic Revivals, and External Actors

The influence of the Ukraine war on threat perceptions and security dynamics in the Western Balkans

“…The Western Balkans exemplify this framework, as states like Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania perceive Russia not solely as a powerful actor but as a revisionist state with clear intentions to destabilize the region and obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration. This perception has driven these countries closer to NATO and the EU, highlighting their alignment against what they view as an ideological and existential threat (Lange et al, 2017;Tahirović, 2024;Zoppi, 2022).…”

“…The security landscape of the Western Balkans remains one of the most complex and fragmented in Europe, shaped by internal vulnerabilities, external geopolitical pressures and the lingering effects of historical conflicts. While a significant body of literature addresses individual aspects of these challenges (Anastasakis, 2022; Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; KAS, 2024; Lachert, 2022; Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Marleku and Reka, 2018; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Vrajolli and Kryeziu, 2015; Zoppi, 2022), a critical examination reveals a lack of focus on how recent external conflicts, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, have influenced the region’s threat perceptions and security strategies. Stephen Walt’s (2010, 2013) balance of threat theory offers a valuable lenses to interpret these dynamics, emphasizing that states align against perceived threats, which combine material power, offensive capabilities, geographic proximity, and perceived intent.…”

“…Caprile and Stanicek (2023) analysis discusses the EU’s efforts to promote stability in the Western Balkans through economic and political reforms. However, delayed accession processes and inconsistent policies have undermined the EU’s credibility, creating a vacuum that Russia exploits (Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Tahirović, 2024; Zoppi, 2022). Similarly, NATO’s role in maintaining regional security through initiatives like KFOR has strengthened ties with pro-Western states while alienating Serbia, which continues to resist NATO integration due to historical grievances.…”

“…The Western Balkans, a region marked by historical conflicts and geopolitical complexities, remains critical for understanding regional security dynamics (Džuverović and Stojarová, 2022; Gardner, 2023). The region’s incomplete integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) makes it particularly vulnerable to nationalistic disputes and external geopolitical pressures (Zoppi, 2022). This vulnerability has significant implications for global security, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.…”

“…The Western Balkans have historically been a hotspot for geopolitical competition, shaped by the complex interplay of historical legacies, national aspirations and external influences (Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Zoppi, 2022). The partial integration of Western Balkan states into NATO and the EU exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.…”

The influence of the Ukraine war on threat perceptions and security dynamics in the Western Balkans

“…The Western Balkans exemplify this framework, as states like Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania perceive Russia not solely as a powerful actor but as a revisionist state with clear intentions to destabilize the region and obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration. This perception has driven these countries closer to NATO and the EU, highlighting their alignment against what they view as an ideological and existential threat (Lange et al, 2017;Tahirović, 2024;Zoppi, 2022).…”

“…The security landscape of the Western Balkans remains one of the most complex and fragmented in Europe, shaped by internal vulnerabilities, external geopolitical pressures and the lingering effects of historical conflicts. While a significant body of literature addresses individual aspects of these challenges (Anastasakis, 2022; Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; KAS, 2024; Lachert, 2022; Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Marleku and Reka, 2018; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Vrajolli and Kryeziu, 2015; Zoppi, 2022), a critical examination reveals a lack of focus on how recent external conflicts, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, have influenced the region’s threat perceptions and security strategies. Stephen Walt’s (2010, 2013) balance of threat theory offers a valuable lenses to interpret these dynamics, emphasizing that states align against perceived threats, which combine material power, offensive capabilities, geographic proximity, and perceived intent.…”

“…Caprile and Stanicek (2023) analysis discusses the EU’s efforts to promote stability in the Western Balkans through economic and political reforms. However, delayed accession processes and inconsistent policies have undermined the EU’s credibility, creating a vacuum that Russia exploits (Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Tahirović, 2024; Zoppi, 2022). Similarly, NATO’s role in maintaining regional security through initiatives like KFOR has strengthened ties with pro-Western states while alienating Serbia, which continues to resist NATO integration due to historical grievances.…”

“…The Western Balkans, a region marked by historical conflicts and geopolitical complexities, remains critical for understanding regional security dynamics (Džuverović and Stojarová, 2022; Gardner, 2023). The region’s incomplete integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) makes it particularly vulnerable to nationalistic disputes and external geopolitical pressures (Zoppi, 2022). This vulnerability has significant implications for global security, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.…”

“…The Western Balkans have historically been a hotspot for geopolitical competition, shaped by the complex interplay of historical legacies, national aspirations and external influences (Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Zoppi, 2022). The partial integration of Western Balkan states into NATO and the EU exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.…”

The influence of the Ukraine war on threat perceptions and security dynamics in the Western Balkans

“…The Western Balkans exemplify this framework, as states like Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania perceive Russia not solely as a powerful actor but as a revisionist state with clear intentions to destabilize the region and obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration. This perception has driven these countries closer to NATO and the EU, highlighting their alignment against what they view as an ideological and existential threat (Lange et al, 2017;Tahirović, 2024;Zoppi, 2022).…”

“…The security landscape of the Western Balkans remains one of the most complex and fragmented in Europe, shaped by internal vulnerabilities, external geopolitical pressures and the lingering effects of historical conflicts. While a significant body of literature addresses individual aspects of these challenges (Anastasakis, 2022; Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; KAS, 2024; Lachert, 2022; Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Marleku and Reka, 2018; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Vrajolli and Kryeziu, 2015; Zoppi, 2022), a critical examination reveals a lack of focus on how recent external conflicts, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, have influenced the region’s threat perceptions and security strategies. Stephen Walt’s (2010, 2013) balance of threat theory offers a valuable lenses to interpret these dynamics, emphasizing that states align against perceived threats, which combine material power, offensive capabilities, geographic proximity, and perceived intent.…”

“…Caprile and Stanicek (2023) analysis discusses the EU’s efforts to promote stability in the Western Balkans through economic and political reforms. However, delayed accession processes and inconsistent policies have undermined the EU’s credibility, creating a vacuum that Russia exploits (Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Tahirović, 2024; Zoppi, 2022). Similarly, NATO’s role in maintaining regional security through initiatives like KFOR has strengthened ties with pro-Western states while alienating Serbia, which continues to resist NATO integration due to historical grievances.…”

“…The Western Balkans, a region marked by historical conflicts and geopolitical complexities, remains critical for understanding regional security dynamics (Džuverović and Stojarová, 2022; Gardner, 2023). The region’s incomplete integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) makes it particularly vulnerable to nationalistic disputes and external geopolitical pressures (Zoppi, 2022). This vulnerability has significant implications for global security, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.…”

“…The Western Balkans have historically been a hotspot for geopolitical competition, shaped by the complex interplay of historical legacies, national aspirations and external influences (Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Zoppi, 2022). The partial integration of Western Balkan states into NATO and the EU exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.…”

The influence of the Ukraine war on threat perceptions and security dynamics in the Western Balkans

“…The Western Balkans exemplify this framework, as states like Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania perceive Russia not solely as a powerful actor but as a revisionist state with clear intentions to destabilize the region and obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration. This perception has driven these countries closer to NATO and the EU, highlighting their alignment against what they view as an ideological and existential threat (Lange et al, 2017;Tahirović, 2024;Zoppi, 2022).…”

“…The security landscape of the Western Balkans remains one of the most complex and fragmented in Europe, shaped by internal vulnerabilities, external geopolitical pressures and the lingering effects of historical conflicts. While a significant body of literature addresses individual aspects of these challenges (Anastasakis, 2022; Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; KAS, 2024; Lachert, 2022; Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Marleku and Reka, 2018; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Vrajolli and Kryeziu, 2015; Zoppi, 2022), a critical examination reveals a lack of focus on how recent external conflicts, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, have influenced the region’s threat perceptions and security strategies. Stephen Walt’s (2010, 2013) balance of threat theory offers a valuable lenses to interpret these dynamics, emphasizing that states align against perceived threats, which combine material power, offensive capabilities, geographic proximity, and perceived intent.…”

“…Caprile and Stanicek (2023) analysis discusses the EU’s efforts to promote stability in the Western Balkans through economic and political reforms. However, delayed accession processes and inconsistent policies have undermined the EU’s credibility, creating a vacuum that Russia exploits (Marleku and Aliu, 2023; Tahirović, 2024; Zoppi, 2022). Similarly, NATO’s role in maintaining regional security through initiatives like KFOR has strengthened ties with pro-Western states while alienating Serbia, which continues to resist NATO integration due to historical grievances.…”

“…The Western Balkans, a region marked by historical conflicts and geopolitical complexities, remains critical for understanding regional security dynamics (Džuverović and Stojarová, 2022; Gardner, 2023). The region’s incomplete integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) makes it particularly vulnerable to nationalistic disputes and external geopolitical pressures (Zoppi, 2022). This vulnerability has significant implications for global security, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.…”

“…The Western Balkans have historically been a hotspot for geopolitical competition, shaped by the complex interplay of historical legacies, national aspirations and external influences (Caprile and Stanicek, 2023; Gardner, 2023; Mitrevska and Ruzhin, 2018; Zoppi, 2022). The partial integration of Western Balkan states into NATO and the EU exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.…”