Balkan Future?

Originally published 18/07/2008

One may have noticed that I have had here as well in some discussion forums quite negative or critical comments about today´s Balkan events and politics. In one forum a question was made if I belief Balkan region to have any future. Yes I do.

Western Balkans will have a future and at least following scenarios can be seen:

• "Laizez faire" /frozen conflict -model: West does not revise its politics, East keeps positions. EU will "supervise Kosovo some 20 years backed with Nato, north part lives its life integrated to Serbia - same case with Bosnia. Maybe the most realistic and easy (no one needs to do anything) scenario.
• Deal scenario: US revises its foreign policy after elections and withdraws recognizing of Kosovo, real talks are starting and ending to bitter compromise (e.g. partitioning Kosovo, applying Hong Kong model ...), Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia are independently concentrating more to economical/social questions instead of quarreling borders. Pragmatic result, needs hard work from all stakeholders.
• Crisis scenario: West try to implement "independent" Kosova in the whole territory forcing puppet authority to north pat of province, Serbia sees it occupied territory, Gaza model of conflict. About this scenario the only winner would be organized crime and I really can not think that so stupid policy would attract anyone else or Great Powers who have other real problems.
• Diversity model: All Balkan countries have their own development paths - some countries are going to join fast to EU (Croatia), some are going to do it later (Macedonia, Albania), some are maybe looking alliances from other directions (Serbia), Kosovo will be international protectorate also next decade; Bosnia will totter between breakup, federation/confederation, state, protectorate depending inner politics and exterior influences.

So I indeed think that western Balkan states will have good future (most my probable scenarios were positive side) - especially if one compares it to past decades. My forecast is that in Balkans conflicts will be in smaller scale than before, tolerance and economy are growing and people are starting think more future than past.