Europeanization of the Balkans vs. Balkanization of Europe: A Vision Limited by Realities

By the time of the simultaneous collapses of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the European Union (EU) commenced an acute relationship with the post-communist Central and Eastern European Countries. The EU had fully supported transition to more democratic regimes and into capital market of these countries. Finally, 13 Central and Eastern European Countries became members of the EU in last two decades. The most-awaited new Enlargement Strategy for the remaining potential candidate and candidate countries in the Western Balkans, entitled “The Credible Enlargement Perspective for the Western Balkans” was presented earlier this year. The strategy that was presented eighteen years after the launch of the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), indicates a clear prospect of accession of Western Balkans countries to the EU by the end of 2025. It’s clear that Western Balkans needs the EU for more stability and less corruption, but according to us, social acceptability of nationalism and far-right in the Western Europe is a danger for Western Balkans countries that were torn by sharp ethnic conflicts until recently. On the other hand, some Central European countries’ descent into authoritarianism is another problem for sensitive stability of Western Balkans countries on the door of the EU. This study aims to take a comprehensive look at how Europe is Balkanizing while Western Balkans countries are Europeanizing. Strategy reports and case studies will be analyzed dealing with the rise of Nationalism in Europe and European Integration of Western Balkans countries.