The Western Balkans and Their Political Stabilization

In: Southeastern Europe: L' Europe du sud-est, Band 42, Heft 3, S. 376-403

Abstract

There are many questions to be answered regarding the future of Western Balkan stability. What has been done in establishing stability in the region in the last two decades? How much has the overall context of stabilization of the region changed? a) what were the developments at the regional scene — internal reforms, bilateral relations, functioning of multilateral cooperation mechanisms? b) how much has the constellation of external partnerships changed, influencing the internal processes in the Western Balkan states and their mutual relations? c) what are the prevailing perceptions and concepts regarding possible developments in the future? Different approaches could be chosen in answering these questions. In this paper attention will mainly be paid to the existing pillars of stabilization. Besides accession to the eu, with its standard procedures and phases, and the Berlin Process as an innovative tool complementing the enlargement policy and providing it with an additional impetus, a special focus will be put on the regional mechanisms of cooperation which involve various actors (with different political relevance), layers of governance, sectors and scope of coverage, and with different levels of impact on stability in the region.