Security identity of the Balkans and the EU

Abstract

The basic identity of the Balkans in the last two centuries, since the term has been in political use, is inextricably linked to the issues of security and insecurity, chaos, violence, barbarism and underdevelopment. By the different perceptions of the Balkans, this area is seen as a part of Europe geographically, yet not belonging to Europe culturally, despite the fact that all Balkan nations, beyond any doubt, are European nations by all their characteristics. Extreme political instability, followed by chronic armed conflicts in which serious crimes are the main contents of the conflict, unfinished states that are strongly influenced by the great powers, economic and cultural backwardness and semi-oriental society, unable to build modern institutions, are the main stereotypes of the Balkans in the eyes of the so-called 'civilized world'. The main reason for this unfavorable perception of the Balkans lies in the fact that this area is in the focus of the Western public opinion only in times of great crisis, but in other situations it is ignored with a certain amount of contempt. The end of the twentieth century and the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia, again put the Balkans and its problems in the focus of world public opinion. Termination (cease?!) of the wars in the former Yugoslavia and the complete collapse of communism open the perspective of a true integration of the Balkans into Europe, through the process of accession of the former Yugoslav federation members and former Soviet bloc members in this area to the European Union and NATO. This paper is addressing the current security risks, challenges and risks that threaten the Balkans, and define its current security identity. In the first place, it is the question of the status of Kosovo, and then the question of the constitutional reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the question of relations between Greece and Macedonia and other issues that may pose a potential security threat emanating from the so-called 'asymmetric security threats.'.

Osnovni identitet Balkana u poslednja dva veka, od kada je taj termin u političkoj upotrebi, bio je neodvojivo povezan sa pitanjima bezbednosti, odnosno nebezbednosti, haosa, nasilja, varvarizma i nerazvijenosti. U različitim percepcijama Balkana, ovaj prostor se doživljava kao geografski deo Evrope, koji joj kulturno ipak ne pripada, uprkos činjenici da su svi balkanski narodi, izvan svake sumnje, evropski narodi, po svim svojim karakteristikama. Izrazita politička nestabilnost, hronično praćena oružanim sukobima u kojima su teški zločini glavni sadržaj sukoba, nedovršene države koje se nalaze pod snažnim uticajem velikih sila, ekonomska i kulturna zaostalost i poluorijentalno društvo nesposobno da izgradi moderne institucije predstavljaju glavni stereotip Balkana u očima tzv 'civilizovanog sveta'. Glavni razlozi za ovako nepovoljnu percepciju Balkana leže u činjenici da se ovaj prostor nalazio u fokusu interesovanja zapadnog javnog mnjenja samo u periodima velikih kriza, dok je u drugim situacijama sa određenom dozom prezira ignorisan. Kraj XX veka i krvavo razbijanje bivše Jugoslavije, ponovo je u fokus svetskog javnog mnjenja stavio Balkan i njegove probleme. Završetak (prekid?!), ratova na prostoru bivše SFRJ i dovršetak sloma komunizma, otvorio je perspektive istinskog uključenja Balkana u Evropu, kroz proces učlanjenja bivših članica jugoslovenske federacije i bivših članica sovjetskog bloka, sa ovih prostora, u Evropsku uniju i NATO. Ovaj rad će se baviti analizom aktuelnih bezbednosnih rizika, izazova i pretnji koje ugrožavaju Balkan, i koje definišu njegov aktuelni bezbednosni identitet u prvom redu to je pitanje statusa Kosova i Metohije, pitanje ustavne rekonstrukcije Bosne i Hercegovine, pitanje odnosa Grčke i Makedonije i druga pitanja koja mogu predstavljati potencijalnu bezbednosnu pretnju, koja potiču od tzv 'asimetričnih bezbednosnih pretnji'.