Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.46672/po-mest.28.1-2.7
A Critical Review of Scientific Papers on the Relationship Between NATO and the Western Balkans
Danijel Bačan
orcid.org/0000-0002-2977-0725
Jelena Lončar
orcid.org/0000-0003-2580-1931
; Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu
Sažetak
This paper provides a systematic and critical overview of scholarly research on the relationship between NATO and the Western Balkans published between 2010 and 2024. Using the PRISMA protocol and a qualitative meta-analysis approach, the authors reviewed 18 peer reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. The selected studies were examined through descriptive statistics, methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, the maticorientations, and their treatment of disinformation. The analysis shows that existing scholarship is highly heterogeneous. The articles differ in publication context, methodological design, and theoretical grounding, ranging from realist interpretations focused on geopolitical interests to liberal perspectives emphasizing international cooperation and stability, as well as constructivist analyses centered on memory, narratives, and identity formation. Across the literature, four dominant thematic clusters are identified: the role of NATO and international organizations;regional stability and security challenges; the legacy of conflicts and their contemporary political implications; and Euro-Atlantic integration amid wider geopolitical shifts, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine. The qualitative meta-analysis reveals that while the reviewed articles collectively offer valuable insights, the field is marked by methodological limitations, particularly the predominance of qualitative approaches and the scarcity of empirical or quantitative data. These limitations affect the comparability of findings and underscore the need for more diversified and data-driven research designs. The paper concludes that future research should further investigate the impact of emerging geopolitical dynamics, including multipolarity, shifting alliances, and hybrid threats, on the Western Balkans. Greater inclusion of non-Western perspectives, especially Russian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern viewpoints, is highlighted as necessary for a more balanced academic discussion.
Ključne riječi
NATO, Western Balkans, scientific literature, PRISMA protocol, meta-analysis
Hrčak ID:
341870
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.12.2025.
Posjeta: 750 *