Since the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, Serbia has played a pivotal role in the Balkans as the largest of the post-Yugoslav nation-state. Over the past decade, it has become an influential regional actor, employing a wide range of political, informational, economic, cultural, and security-related instruments to shape its position in the Western Balkans.
This publication examines Serbia’s regional influence and the mechanisms through which it engages with Serb communities in neighboring countries. It also explores the concept of the “Serbian World” (Srpski svet) as one of the narratives through which these policies are increasingly interpreted.
Although the concept does not constitute an official state doctrine, the report analyses how it has been used in political discourse and how it relates to Serbia’s long-standing regional policies. It also examines the broader political, security, and governance implications of these developments across the Western Balkans.
Drawing on four reports prepared by partner organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia, as well as policy recommendations developed through structured discussions with local and international stakeholders, this publication presents the findings of a year-long regional project. It analyses the impact of Serbia’s regional engagement on democratic processes, state institutions, regional security, and European integration, while also highlighting the role of domestic governance challenges and the wider geopolitical environment.
The publication was produced within the project “Building the Serbian World: Serbia’s Impact on Security and Stability in the Western Balkans”, implemented by:
• Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), Serbia
• NGO Aktiv, Kosovo
• Digital Forensic Center (DFC), Montenegro
• Foreign Policy Initiative BH (FPI BH), Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Res Publica Foundation, Poland
• BalkanViews, Slovakia
This publication was supported by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund.
Read the full REPORT.
