European Security in the Balkans: The Case of Macedonia
Abstract
Today, European Union (EU) security policy provides a limited capacity for crisis management in the context of collective security. This capacity is primarily driven by the EU's largest powers. Hence, this capability is influenced and biased by the interests of these powers. Consequently, EU security policy toward the Western Balkans has been prejudiced and partial to the interests of the EU's largest powers. Instead of focusing on the emerging security problems in the Western Balkans, some EU members have become politically divided over the rising instability in the Balkans. The EU's largest powers, due to their biased interests, never reached consensus on their policy toward the Western Balkans. It is important to understand the historical facts that occasioned instability in the Western Balkans in the early 1990s. Comparing complex historical events with present facts will help to evaluate the influence of history on current (difficult) political processes in the Western Balkans. Full implementation of the EU enlargement policy and simultaneous integration of the Balkan states into the European Union is the key to the stability and security of the Western Balkans, particularly the Republic of Macedonia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589525
Entities
People
- Valentin Ivanoski
Organizations
- United States Army War College